Throughout life, the joints of the legs experience a lot of stress. The hip is a large spherical joint that allows independent movement. The appearance of painful sensations, tight movements, a lame gait makes a person think about the onset of pathology.
In recent years, the number of people under the age of 30 who have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis has increased dramatically. This statistic is extremely disappointing, as the disease progresses steadily and can lead to severe disabilities and disabilities. To protect yourself from the development of adverse reactions, you should immediately start treatment and follow all medical recommendations.
Arthrosis of the hip joint causes a lot of inconvenience to its owner. In case of discomfort in the joint area, it is necessary to consult a doctor to confirm the diagnosis and prescribe an effective treatment. Delayed 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. Most often, the joints of the hands, feet and knees suffer, but the most serious disease is arthrosis of the hip. With its development, the risk of developing complete disability increases due to severe restrictions in movement.
The basis of articular cartilage is made up of molecules of collagen and proteoglycans: it is they that give the joint strength and elasticity, make it resistant to different types of loads. Under the influence of external factors, the amount of collagen and proteoglycans decreases, leading 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 extremities;
- obesity;
- age-related body changes (in people over 55);
- menopause (in women);
- malnutrition with deficiency of protein and calcium products;
- hereditary predisposition;
- operations transferred to the joints.
How does arthrosis of the hip joint manifest?
Arthrosis develops gradually, so it is quite difficult to detect its initial manifestations. The patient may ignore the symptoms of the disease, taking them for fatigue or overwork. Exacerbation of discomfort may occur after injury. Osteoarthritis of the hip joint is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Pain in the affected limb. It is dull, painful in nature, constant throughout the day. Unpleasant sensations increase during physical activity (exercise, running or walking), decrease at rest. When the hip joint is affected, the pain radiates to the groin, perineum and thigh. The seal may also begin to "react" to changes in weather conditions or atmospheric pressure.
- Atrophic muscle changes. When walking, the patient unconsciously spares the affected limb, which leads to less strain on the muscles of the buttocks and thighs. This is accompanied by their atrophy and decrease in volume. This is especially noticeable with unilateral osteoarthritis.
- The appearance of a crunch when implementing movements in the joint. This noise resembles the rustle of a plastic bag and becomes louder after a long period of immobility (night sleep). In medicine, this term is called "crepitus". The appearance of a crunch is associated with a violation of the mobility of the joint.
- Enlargement of the affected joint in volume. This occurs as a result of the formation on the bone surfaces of the smallest spikes - osteophytes. Such a reaction occurs as a compensatory response to an increase in the load on the surface of the bones (with thinning of the cartilage).
Medical treatment of osteoarthritis
It is currently not possible to completely prevent the destruction of cartilage tissue. Therefore, the treatment of osteoarthritis with medication is aimed at reducing pain and slowing the progression of the disease. Most often, the following groups of drugs are used in therapy:
- Non-narcotic analgesics and analgesics of mixed action. They help reduce pain and are available in tablets or vials 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 if arthrosis is accompanied by inflammation of the synovial membrane of the joint.
- Chondroprotectors are drugs that slow disease progression and improve joint function.
Exercise therapy and physiotherapy methods
Non-pharmacological agents are also widely used in disease control. Doctors prescribe exercise therapy to patients to strengthen muscles and prevent the development of joint immobility. The nature of the exercises and the frequency of their implementation are determined individually for each case. Arthrosis treatment also includes such physiotherapeutic procedures as:
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation;
- acupuncture;
- magnetic therapy;
- electrophoresis with painkillers;
- laser therapy;
- massage.
To reduce the load on the affected limb, the patient is also recommended to use canes or a walker. It will be helpful to wear a hip brace, a special device that helps restore leg function and prevent further damage to the joint.
Operation
The endoprosthesis is prescribed in the event that conservative methods of treating arthrosis of the hip joint are ineffective. The goal of surgery is to eliminate the pain syndrome and restore the 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. The most favorable prognosis for work is for patients aged 40-75 years weighing up to 70 kg: the probability of rejection of the stent is minimized in them, which makes the treatment of arthrosis extremely effective. On average, the prosthesis lasts about 10-12 years, but there have been cases of successful use with minimal wear for 20-25 years.