Osteoarthritis of the hip joint, or in other words, coxarthrosis, is a serious pathology in this area of the skeletal system, characterized by the destruction of the articular layer of cartilage, additional damage to other components - adjacent muscles, bursa. , pelvic bones.
Deforming osteoarthritis is especially dangerous because it leads not only to cartilage thinning, but also to bone growth, which threatens irreversible consequences.
Osteoarthritis actively progresses and contributes to the development of vascular sclerosis of the joint head with the growth of a large number of cysts. The consequences of the disease will be severe deformities, dysfunctions of one or both hip joints. Coxarthrosis of the joint manifests itself not only in connection with age-related changes in the skeletal system, but also in children with congenital dislocation of the hip, dysplasia.
Osteoarthritis of the hip joint: symptoms
Signs of pelvic bone damage manifest differently in each patient, but common ones include the following:
- The main place among them is occupied by the pain syndrome, from which the patient suffers not only after physical exertion, but also at rest. Painful sensations are located in the thigh, groin, and reach the knee. The pains are not always static, as the disease progresses, they change the place of location, intensity, duration;
- Restriction of motor activity of the musculoskeletal system leads to stiffness of human movements, lameness, sometimes shortening of the limb due to spasm of the gluteal muscles;
- The acute stage is characterized by the inability to bring the affected leg closer to the body or to withdraw it in the supine position. When performing movements, joint creaking sounds are heard.
There are three degrees of development of coxarthrosis. If in the first stage of the pathology the painful sensations pass after a short rest, they become more and more intense. The hip joints are threatened by immobility and the muscles of the thighs, buttocks and lower legs are difficult to cope with their functions due to atrophic changes in them.
The main causes of the injury
- The risk of developing osteoarthritis is often found in those groups of people who already have metabolic disorders, genetic characteristics in the structure of the skeletal system and weakness of cartilage tissues.
- But most often the appearance of this pathology is preceded by some diseases associated with malnutrition, the blood supply to the femoral head, for example, Peters disease. It manifests itself mainly in children during infancy.
- Congenital dislocation of the hip also leads to the development of joint pathologies of the pelvis.
- Injuries in the form of fractures, dislocations provoke the development of diseases of the hip joints.
- Inflammatory processes in the bones, such as arthritis of various etiologies, contribute to joint tissue damage.
- And leading a sedentary lifestyle, hormonal disorders in the body, the practice of heavy sports only provoke the development of arthritic changes in the hip joints.
Treatment of osteoarthritis with therapeutic methods.
In the case of advanced pathology, an operation is likely. But in the early stages of development, deforming osteoarthritis is cured with conservative methods in a hospital or at home.
Joint treatment with drugs
Several main types of medications are used to treat the disease:
- Non-steroidal drugs are often produced in tablet, capsule, and gel form. They are effective anti-inflammatory analgesic agents that relieve swelling, reduce pain, and stop the pathological process in tissues. The tablets, capsules and medicines are taken with meals, first forty milligrams, then two days later they are reduced to twenty. The gel is used three times a day, rubbing in with massaging movements. With caution, drugs are prescribed to elderly patients with heart failure, pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract. While using it, you should not drink alcohol, drive a car;
- The agent, which is a chondroprotective agent, restores metabolic processes, the functions of cartilaginous tissues of the hip joint and reduces pain. They take the drug one and a half grams a day for six weeks. Thanks to such drugs, after three months it will be possible to feel improvements in the condition of the hip joint;
- To relax smooth muscles, eliminates spasms of small vessels, helps a drug that improves the properties of blood, increases resistance to hypoxia. Take two tablets once a day with meals;
- Muscle relaxants are intended to normalize blood circulation and relieve muscle pain. One tablet is prescribed three times a day. The drug is contraindicated for people with severe liver pathologies;
- Corticosteroids are used only for extremely severe forms of the disease, when other medications do not provide relief. Some of these drugs have strong anti-inflammatory effects. Most often, a solution of the drug is injected intramuscularly, starting at one hundred milliliters, every six hours. It is used successfully for administration by ultrasound equipment (phonophoresis, electrophoresis).
Treatment with hot ointments for such a joint pathology is rarely used, since it is quite difficult for external agents to pass through the injury through the layers of fat, skin and muscles.
We treat coxarthrosis at home
Time-tested traditional medicine recipes should also be used in the treatment of coxarthrosis.
- After passing the pulp of three lemons, 250 grams of celery root, 120 grams of garlic through a meat grinder, a mixture is obtained, which, after being placed in a three-liter jar, is poured with boiling water. The infusion is taken half an hour before breakfast, half a glass a day.
- A glass of calamus and astragalus is boiled in five liters of water for five minutes. After you've infused the medicine, add the solution to a warm bath. After performing medical procedures, it is good to do gymnastics to develop mobility of the pelvic joints.
- Aspic, cooked with a kilogram of unsalted beef hooves, is very useful for joint ailments. Two hundred grams should be consumed half an hour before meals.
- A bath with the addition of Jerusalem artichoke, pine branches, sea salt and honey will alleviate the patient's condition. And the network of iodine and pork fat will consolidate its effect. Also, after taking a bath, a compress of horseradish porridge mixed with honey, applied to the area of pain, will help.
Of course, treatment with folk remedies will only weaken some of the symptoms of the disease, it will not eliminate them completely, but in combination with other methods it will be effective.
Medical procedures can help with pelvic osteoarthritis
Procedures prescribed by specialists for the successful treatment of coxarthrosis have a beneficial local effect on the tissues of the affected area of the skeletal system of the human body:
- Acting with low temperatures in painful areas of the pelvic bones, cryotherapy stimulates blood flow to them, metabolic processes in the tissues. Partial immersion of the body in an environment with liquid nitrogen, where the temperature varies from minus one hundred and ten to minus one hundred and sixty, will help to eliminate the unpleasant symptoms of arthritic pain and will restore motor functions;
- Infrared light irradiation is used for painful sensations in muscle tissues and nerve endings. Before the phototherapy procedure, it is necessary to lubricate the affected area with gel, then for thirty minutes they act with the help of a special apparatus on the site of pain. To avoid allergic reactions, mandatory tests are carried out before the session and then the appropriate dose of radiation is selected;
- Hip joint traction, or traction, is a way to stretch the joints to prevent abrasion and increase the space between them. The procedure is carried out by a specialist himself or using a traction unit. In the supine position, while fixing the chest, the patient's shoulder spine, a load is suspended from the lower back on a special belt. The weight of the load depends on the weight, height, age and severity of the person's illness. After such an operation, it is recommended to give the patient a long rest.
Physiotherapy, massage should be prescribed to deform osteoarthritis of the hip joint, as this will help improve blood circulation, relieve muscle tension and pain.
Prevention of recurrence of joint pathology.
The successful treatment of any disease of the skeletal system must be consolidated so that the disease does not return.
- To develop the hip joint, daily gymnastics, thigh and buttock massage will help. Swimming exercises have a positive effect on the condition of the pelvis and hips.
- The prevention of joint pathologies is not complete without a balanced diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, seafood, chicken, and turkey.
- Recipes of traditional medicine will also strengthen muscles and bones, so the use of compresses, trays made of medicinal herbs is mandatory.
And most importantly, do not overload your joints, muscles with work, long walks, jogging. And when the first symptoms of pain appear, you should immediately consult a doctor.
The materials posted on this page are for informational purposes and are intended for educational purposes. Determining the diagnosis and choosing the method of treatment remains the sole prerogative of your treating physician.