In the course of life, the joints of the legs are heavily used. The hip is a large ball and socket joint that provides the ability to move independently. The appearance of painful sensations, tight movements and limping gait makes a person think about the appearance of pathologies.
In recent years, the number of people under the age of 30 diagnosed with osteoarthritis has increased dramatically. This statistic is extremely disappointing as the disease is steadily progressive and can lead to severe disability and disability. To protect yourself from the development of side effects, you need to start treatment immediately and follow all medical recommendations.
Osteoarthritis of the hip joint causes a lot of inconvenience to its owner. If there is any discomfort in the joint area, it is necessary to consult a doctor to confirm the diagnosis and prescribe an effective treatment. Late treatment can cost the patient the ability to walk independently.
What is osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a rheumatological disease based on degenerative and dystrophic changes in the joints. At the same time, not only the articular surfaces, but also the ligamentous apparatus and the capsule are involved in the pathological process. The joints of the hands, feet and knees suffer most often, but the most serious disease is osteoarthritis of the hip joint. With their development, the risk of complete disability increases due to severe limitations in movement.
The basis of articular cartilage is formed by collagen molecules and proteoglycans: they give the joint strength and elasticity, making it resistant to various types of loads. Under the influence of external factors, the amount of collagen and proteoglycans decreases, which leads to depletion and gradual destruction of cartilage tissue. Arthrosis develops under the influence of the following factors:
- mechanical injury;
- inflammatory processes in the joints;
- excessive load on the lower limbs;
- Obesity;
- age-related changes in the body (in people over 55 years old);
- menopause (in women);
- malnutrition with a lack of protein products and calcium;
- hereditary predisposition;
- transferred operations on the joints.
How does osteoarthritis of the hip joint manifest itself?
Osteoarthritis develops gradually, so it is quite difficult to recognize its first manifestations. The patient may ignore the symptoms of the disease, confusing them with fatigue or overwork. Symptoms can worsen after an injury. Arthrosis of the hip joint is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Pain in the affected limb. It's dull, aching in nature, and constant throughout the day. Unpleasant sensations increase with physical activity (sports, running or walking) and decrease at rest. When the hip joint is affected, the pain radiates to the groin, perineum, and thigh. The connection can also begin to "react" to changes in weather conditions or atmospheric pressure.
- Atrophic muscle changes. When walking, the patient subconsciously spares the affected limb, which leads to less stress on the muscles of the buttocks and thighs. This is accompanied by their atrophy and decrease in volume. This is particularly noticeable in the case of unilateral arthrosis.
- The appearance of a crunch while performing movements in the joint. This sound is similar to the rustling of a plastic bag and becomes louder after a long period of inactivity (night sleep). In medicine, this term is called "crepitation". The appearance of a crunch is associated with a violation of the mobility of the joint.
- Increase in volume of the affected joint. This happens through the formation of tiny spines - osteophytes - on the bone surfaces. Such a response occurs as a compensatory response to an increase in bone surface loading (with cartilage thinning).
Medical treatment of osteoarthritis
It is currently not possible to completely prevent the destruction of cartilage tissue. Therefore, the drug treatment of osteoarthritis aims to relieve pain and slow the progression of the disease. The following groups of drugs are most often used in therapy:
- Non-narcotic and mixed-action analgesics. They help relieve pain and are available in tablets or ampoules for intravenous administration.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the form of topical ointments or creams are also used to control pain. They are also prescribed when osteoarthritis is accompanied by inflammation of the synovial membrane of the joint.
- Chondroprotectors are drugs that slow the progression of the disease and improve joint function.
Movement therapy and physiotherapy methods
Non-pharmacological agents are also widely used in the fight against the disease. Doctors prescribe exercise therapy to patients to strengthen muscles and prevent joint immobility from developing. The type of exercises and the frequency of their implementation are determined individually for each case. The treatment of arthrosis also includes such physiotherapeutic procedures as:
- transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation;
- Acupuncture;
- magnetotherapy;
- electrophoresis with analgesics;
- laser therapy;
- Massage.
To reduce the load on the affected limb, the patient is also recommended to use sticks or a walker. It makes sense to wear a hip brace, a special device that helps restore leg function and prevent further damage to the joint.
surgery
Arthroplasty is prescribed when conservative methods of treating arthrosis of the hip joint are ineffective. The purpose of the operation is to eliminate the pain syndrome and restore motor function of the limb. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia in a specialized hospital, after which the patient will have a long rehabilitation. Patients between the ages of 40 and 75 with a body weight of up to 70 kg have the most favorable prognosis for labor: the probability of rejection of the endoprosthesis is minimized in them, which makes the treatment of arthrosis extremely effective. On average, the prosthesis lasts about 10-12 years, but there are cases where it has been used successfully for 20-25 years with minimal wear.