Throughout life, the joints of the feet experience a lot of stress. The hip is a large spherical joint that provides the ability to move independently. The appearance of painful sensations, intense movements, lame 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. These statistics are extremely disappointing, because the disease progresses steadily and can cause serious disability and disability. To protect yourself from the development of negative effects, you should start treatment immediately and follow all medical recommendations.
Arthrosis of the hip joint brings a lot of discomfort to the owner. If there is discomfort in the joint area, it is necessary to consult a doctor to confirm the diagnosis and prescribe effective treatment. Delayed treatment can cost the patient's 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 articular surfaces, but also the ligamentous apparatus and capsule are involved in the pathological process. Often, the joints of the hands, feet, and knees suffer, but the most serious disease is arthrosis of the hip joint. With its development, the risk of developing complete disability increases due to severe limitations in movements.
The basis of articular cartilage is collagen molecules and proteoglycans: they give the joint strength and flexibility, making it resistant to various loads. Under the influence of external factors, the amount of collagen and proteoglycans decreases, as a result, the cartilage tissue is exhausted and gradually destroyed. Arthrosis develops under the influence of the following factors:
- mechanical damage;
- inflammatory processes in the joints;
- excessive load on the lower extremities;
- obesity;
- age-related changes in the body (in people over 55);
- menopause (in women);
- nutrition with protein products and calcium deficiency;
- hereditary tendency;
- operations on the joints are transferred.
How does arthrosis of the hip joint manifest itself?
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 overwork. An exacerbation of anxiety may occur after an injury. Arthrosis of the hip joint is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Pain in the affected limb. Dull in nature, painful, stable during the day. Unpleasant sensations increase during physical activity (exercise, running or walking), and decrease during rest. When the hip joint is affected, the pain spreads to the groin, perineum and thigh. The joint can also begin to "respond" to changes in weather conditions or atmospheric pressure.
- Atrophic muscle changes. When walking, the patient unconsciously bends the affected limb, resulting in less stress on the hip and thigh muscles. This is accompanied by their atrophy and decrease in volume. This is especially noticeable with unilateral arthrosis.
- The appearance of a crisis during the implementation of actions in the union. This sound is similar to the rustling of a plastic bag and gets louder after a long period of inactivity (night sleep). In medicine, this term is called "crepitus". The appearance of a crisis is associated with a violation of the mobility of the joint.
- Volume expansion 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 surface of the bones (with thinning of the cartilage).
Medical treatment of arthrosis
Currently, it is impossible to completely prevent the destruction of cartilage tissue. Therefore, the treatment of arthrosis with the help of drugs aims to reduce pain and slow down the progression of the disease. The following drug groups are often used in therapy:
- Non-narcotic analgesics and mixed-action analgesics. They help reduce 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 manage pain. They are also prescribed if arthrosis is accompanied by inflammation of the joint synovial membrane.
- Chondroprotectors are drugs that slow down the progression of the disease and improve joint function.
Exercise therapy and physiotherapy methods
In the fight against the disease, non-pharmacological means are also widely used. Doctors prescribe exercise therapy to patients to strengthen muscles and prevent the development of joint immobility. The nature of training and the frequency of their performance are determined individually for each case. Treatment of arthrosis also includes such physiotherapeutic procedures:
- transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation;
- acupuncture;
- magnetic therapy;
- electrophoresis with analgesics;
- laser therapy;
- massage.
The patient is also advised to use a cane or walker to reduce the load on the affected area. It will be useful to wear a hip orthosis, a special device that helps to restore the function of the leg and prevent further damage to the joint.
Surgery
Endoprostheses are prescribed in cases where 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 limb. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia in a special hospital, after which the patient will undergo a long rehabilitation. The most favorable labor prognosis is found in patients from 40 to 75 years of age with a body weight of up to 70 kg: in them, the probability of rejection of the endoprosthesis is minimized, which makes the treatment of arthrosis extremely effective. On average, the prosthesis lasts about 10-12 years, but there are cases of successful use for 20-25 years with minimal wear.