The joints of the legs experience a lot of stress during life. The hip is a large spherical joint that provides the possibility of independent movement. The appearance of painful sensations, strained movements, limping gait makes a person think about the appearance of pathology.
In recent years, the number of people under the age of 30 diagnosed with arthrosis has increased dramatically. This statistic is extremely disappointing, because the disease progresses steadily and can lead to serious disability and disability. To protect yourself from the development of harmful effects, you must immediately start treatment and follow all medical recommendations.
Arthrosis of the hip joint causes a lot of inconvenience to its owner. If discomfort occurs in the joint area, it is necessary to consult a doctor in order to confirm the diagnosis and prescribe an effective treatment. Delayed treatment can cost the patient the ability to walk independently.
What is arthrosis?
Arthrosis is a rheumatological disease based on degenerative and dystrophic changes in the joints. At the same time, not only the joint surfaces, but also the ligamentous apparatus and capsule are involved in the pathological process. The joints of the hands, feet, and knees are most often affected, but the most serious disease is arthrosis of the hip joint. Its development increases the risk of developing complete disability due to serious movement restrictions.
The basis of articular cartilage is made up of 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 proteoglycan 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);
- menopause (in women);
- malnutrition with lack of protein products and calcium;
- hereditary predisposition;
- transferred joint operations.
How is arthrosis of the hip joint manifested?
Arthrosis develops gradually, so it is quite difficult to detect its initial manifestations. The patient may ignore the symptoms of the disease, mistaking them for fatigue or overload. Discomfort may worsen after an injury. Arthrosis of the hip joint is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Pain in the affected limb. It is dull, painful in nature, constant during the day. Unpleasant sensations increase during physical activity (exercise, running or walking), decrease at rest. When the hip joint is affected, the pain spreads to the groin, perineum and thigh. The joint 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 results in less strain on the muscles of the buttocks and thighs. This is accompanied by their atrophy and volume reduction. This is especially visible in unilateral arthrosis.
- Occurrence of crunching during joint movements. This sound resembles the rustling of a plastic bag and becomes louder after a long period of immobility (night sleep). In medicine, this term is called "crepitus". The occurrence of crunching is associated with a violation of joint mobility.
- Increase in the volume of the affected joint. This happens as a result of the formation of the smallest spikes - osteophytes - on the bone surfaces. Such a reaction occurs as a compensatory response to an increase in the load on the bone surface (along with cartilage thinning).
Medical treatment of arthrosis
Currently, it is not possible to completely prevent the destruction of cartilage tissue. Therefore, the treatment of arthrosis with the help of drugs is aimed at reducing pain and slowing down the progression of the disease. The following groups of drugs are most often used in therapy:
- Non-narcotic analgesics and analgesics of mixed action. They help reduce pain and are available in tablets or ampoules for intravenous administration.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the form of local 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 down the progression of the disease and improve joint function.
Exercise therapy and physiotherapy methods
Non-pharmacological means are also widely used in the fight against the disease. Doctors prescribe exercise therapy for patients to strengthen muscles and prevent the development of joint immobility. The nature of the exercises and the frequency of their performance are determined individually for each case. Treatment of arthrosis includes such physiotherapeutic procedures as:
- transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation;
- acupuncture;
- magnetic therapy;
- electrophoresis with analgesics;
- laser therapy;
- massage.
In order to reduce the load on the affected limb, the patient is also recommended to use canes or walkers. It will be helpful to wear a hip orthosis, a special device that helps restore leg function and avoid further damage to the joint.
Operation
Endoprosthetics are 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 the motor function of the extremities. 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 childbirth is in patients aged 40 to 75 years with a body weight of up to 70 kg: with them, the probability of rejection of the endoprosthesis is minimized, which makes the treatment of arthrosis extremely effective. On average, a prosthesis lasts about 10-12 years, but there are cases of its successful use with minimal wear for 20-25 years.