Features of complex therapy in the treatment of arthrosis of the hip joint

Arthrosis of the hip joint is a complex pathology that can lead to dangerous health consequences.

To slow down its development and cope with dangerous symptoms, you need to consult a doctor in time. The specialist will make the correct diagnosis and select the appropriate treatment.

Clinical picture and classification of pathology

The pathology is progressive in nature and is accompanied by the destruction of the bones and cartilage of the hip joint. In medicine, this disorder is often called coxarthrosis. It is classified in ICD-10 under the code M16.

Most often, pathology occurs in people over 40 years old, and women are more susceptible to it.

In the elderly, the disease is associated with the natural aging of the body. In young people, the cause of the development of the disease can be traumatic injuries, excess weight, increased physical activity.

At the initial stage of the disease, there are periodic pains in the area of the joint. Without adequate treatment, the disease progresses, which can lead to disability.

Causes and provoking factors

Pathology has a gradual development and is associated with various factors. The following factors lead to the onset of the disease:

1. Hormonal imbalance - may have age or pathological character.
2. Violation of blood flow - occurs as a result of injuries, increased physical exertion, vascular pathologies.
3. Inflammation - can be seen with arthritis.
4. Excess weight - increased loads on the hip joint cause its compression and destruction.
5. Genetic predisposition - disorders of the structure of the femoral head often lead to arthrosis.
6. Increased physical activity - rarely causes osteoarthritis, but can accelerate the onset of the disease along with other undesirable factors.
7. Traumatic injuries - these include sprains, fractures, dislocations.

Stages and types of osteoarthritis

There are several stages in the development of pathology:

1. The first stage - at this stage, uncomfortable sensations periodically appear. The provoking factor is prolonged physical activity. After a short rest, the discomfort subsides.
2. The second stage - the pain in the hip joint increases, affecting the groin and thigh. Discomfort also occurs at rest. After a long movement, lameness appears. At this stage, the function of the joint suffers, its motor activity decreases. Contractures gradually develop, strength and muscle mass decrease.
3. The third stage - the pain syndrome is permanent and appears even at night. Walking without a cane is very difficult. Movements are disturbed and severely limited, there is a hypotrophy of the muscles of the buttocks, thighs and lower leg. When moving, a person needs to lean on the toes and lean on the damaged side.
4. The fourth stage - at this stage, the hip joint completely loses its motor activity.

Symptoms and manifestations

With the development of this type of arthrosis, the following manifestations occur:

1. Severe pain in the area of the affected joint and knees. In addition, discomfort may occur in the groin. The pain is constantly present. With the aggravation of the disease, it affects the legs.
2. Violation of motor activity. Excruciating pain syndrome disrupts a person's ability to move. In this situation, he must use a cane or crutches.
3. Shortening of the affected limb.
4. Lameness.
5. A crack in the joint that appears with every movement.
6. Stiffness of movements.
7. Atrophy of muscle tissue in the thigh area - is detected by X-rays.

Hip joint diagnostic methods

When establishing a diagnosis, the doctor takes into account the clinical manifestations of the pathology, anamnesis, the results of an external examination of the patient and instrumental studies.

To make an accurate diagnosis, conduct the following studies:

1. Analysis of patient complaints and external examination of the damaged area.
2. X-ray - with its help it is possible to identify the size of the joint space, bone growths, etc.
3. Ultrasound procedure.
4. Blood tests.
5. Magnetic resonance imaging.

If necessary, the inner surface of the joint is examined using arthroscopic instruments. Differential diagnosis is carried out to exclude gonarthrosis, lumbosacral or thoracic osteochondrosis. Pain in osteoarthritis can be disguised as clinical manifestations of radicular syndrome caused by pinching or inflammation of the nerve. It is usually possible to exclude neurogenic pathology using a number of tests. Osteoarthritis of the hip joint necessarily differs from trochanteric bursitis of the hip joint, Bechterew's disease, reactive arthritis. To exclude autoimmune pathologies, biochemical studies of blood and synovial fluid are performed.

Treatment

To cope with arthrosis of the hip joint, it is necessary to choose a combination therapy.

General recommendations for daily routine and nutrition

At the initial stage of the pathology, the doctor advises making lifestyle adjustments. This will help stop the pain and stop the progression of the disease. At this stage, it is usually enough to correct the way of life and adhere to a special diet.

The doctor recommends the patient to perform special physical exercises. Equally important is diet correction. If you are overweight, you definitely need to lose weight. Increased stress on the joint will not eliminate osteoarthritis.

The basis of the diet should be fish. You can also eat lean meats, legumes, green vegetables, large bread. At the same time, it is recommended to abandon fried foods and fast food. You need to eat fractional, in small portions.

Conservative therapy

Medical treatment is aimed at solving such problems:

• pain relief;
• normalization of tissue nutrition;
• stimulation of the regeneration process;
• improved blood circulation;
• reduction of pressure on damaged areas;
• enlargement of the common space.

To solve these problems, you should use the following categories of drugs:

1. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These drugs relieve pain and inflammation. However, they are not able to restore the affected cartilage.
2. Chondroprotectors. They bring nutrients to the tissues and stop the destruction of the joints, which helps restore their functions.
3. Muscle relaxants. With the help of such funds, it is possible to eliminate spasms of muscle tissues and normalize blood flow in the tissues.
4. Creams and ointments. These funds activate blood flow and eliminate spasms.
5. Steroid hormones. These drugs are injected into the joint cavity. Thanks to this, it is possible to cope with the exacerbation of the disease and eliminate severe pain.
6. Vasodilators. They contribute to the expansion of blood vessels in the joints and supply the tissues with useful substances.

Folk and alternative means

In addition to standard therapy, you can use the following tools:

1. Tinctures and decoctions for internal use. The basis of such funds can be lemons, mummy, honey, medicinal plants.
2. Ointments based on natural ingredients. For their preparation, you can use eucalyptus oil, aloe, celandine.
3. Baths and compresses. To stop the symptoms of osteoarthritis, compresses made from cabbage leaves and Jerusalem artichoke baths can be used.

Physiotherapy

At the stage of remission, physiotherapy is actively used:

1. Shockwave therapy - in this case, the body is affected by sound waves, which provide blood flow to the desired area. This improves the regeneration process of the dermis and stimulates metabolic processes.
2. Myostimulation - helps restore the functioning of muscle tissue, which is weakened due to a forced decrease in motor activity.
3. Phonophoresis - under the influence of a special device, a special drug in the form of an ointment or cream is injected into the affected area.
4. Ozone therapy - reduces discomfort and activates cartilage development. This effect is achieved due to the influence of the ozone-oxygen composition.

Surgical methods

With the ineffectiveness of conservative therapy, surgical interventions are prescribed:

1. Puncture - involves pumping excess fluid from the joint. Thanks to this, it is possible to stop pain and normalize physical activity.
2. Arthroscopic debridement - consists in cleaning the inner articular surface from cartilaginous elements and washing the cavity with a special solution.
3. Periarticular osteotomy - is an artificial fracture of the femur. After that, it is spliced at a different angle, which minimizes the load on the joint.
4. Endoprostheses - in this case, the entire joint is replaced with a prosthesis.

It is impossible to restore cartilage tissue in a joint damaged by arthrosis without prosthetic surgery, but with the correct approach to treatment, compliance with all medical prescriptions, maintaining the correct lifestyle, practicing therapeutic exercises, regular massage courses, taking vitamins and proper nutrition, you can stop the process of damage and destruction of cartilage and hip joints.

Orthopedic items

A cane can be used to relieve stress on the hip joint. In some situations, a person is advised to use crutches.

Very often, people with this diagnosis are advised to wear a soft bandage. Using a brace helps reduce the load on the affected area, protects it from dislocations and reduces physical activity.

Effects

In the most difficult situation, a person becomes disabled, completely loses his ability to work and cannot lead an active life. This condition is very dangerous for the elderly. If you do not help a person, his life expectancy is significantly reduced.

Provide

Pathology has a favorable prognosis for life. In addition, the disease usually has a slow development. However, in some situations, there is a risk of aseptic necrosis of the femur, which is life-threatening.

Osteoarthritis of the hip joint is a serious pathology that can lead to complete loss of motor activity. To avoid this, you need to consult a doctor in a timely manner and strictly follow his recommendations.