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

Osteoarthritis of the hip joint is a complex disease that can cause 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 the 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 referred to as coxarthrosis. It is classified in ICD-10 with the code M16.

Most often, the pathology occurs in people over the age of 40, and women are more susceptible to it.

In older people, 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 joint area. Without adequate therapy, the disease progresses, which can cause disability.

Causes and provoking factors

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

1. Hormonal imbalance - can have an age or a pathological character.
2. Violation of blood flow - occurs due to injury, increased physical exertion, vascular pathologies.
3. Inflammation - can be observed with arthritis.
4. Excess weight - the increased loads on the hip joint causes its compression and destruction.
5. Genetic predisposition: Disturbances in the structure of the femoral head often lead to osteoarthritis.
6. Increased physical activity - rarely causes osteoarthritis, but can accelerate the onset of the disease with other adverse 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, unpleasant sensations periodically appear. The provoking factor is prolonged physical activity. After a short rest, the discomfort disappears.
2. The second stage - increases pain in the hip joint, 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 develop gradually, 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 hypotrophy of the muscles of the buttocks, thighs and lower leg. When moving, a person must rely on their toes and lean over to the injured side.
4. The fourth stage: at this stage, the hip joint completely loses 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. Also, discomfort in the groin may occur. Pain is constantly present. As the disease worsens, 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 creak in the joint that appears with any movement.
6. Stiffness of movements.
7. Atrophy of muscle tissue in the thigh area - is detected by X-rays.

Methods for diagnosing the hip joint

When making 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, perform 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 dimensions of the joint space, bone growths, etc.
3. Ultrasound procedure.
4. Blood analysis.
5. Magnetic resonance.

If necessary, the internal surface of the joint is examined using arthroscopic instruments. Differential diagnosis is made to exclude gonarthrosis, lumbosacral or thoracic osteochondrosis. Pain in osteoarthritis can be masked as clinical manifestations of root syndrome caused by pinching or inflammation of the nerve. Neurogenic pathology can usually be ruled out with the help of a series of tests. Arthrosis of the hip joint necessarily differs from trochanteric bursitis of the hip joint, Bechterew's disease, reactive arthritis. To rule out autoimmune diseases, 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

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

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

The basis of the diet should be fish. You can also eat lean meats, legumes, vegetables, coarse bread. At the same time, it is recommended to abandon fried and fast food. You have to eat in a fractional way, 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 flow;
• reduction of pressure on damaged areas;
• enlargement of the joint space.

To solve these problems, it is necessary to use the following categories of medicines:

1. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories. These drugs relieve pain and inflammation. However, they are unable to restore the affected cartilage.
2. Chondroprotectors. They provide nutrients to the tissues and block 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. Such 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 intense pain.
6. Vasodilators. They contribute to the expansion of blood vessels in the joints and supply the tissues with useful substances.

Popular and alternative means

In addition to standard therapy, the following tools can be used:

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

Physiotherapy

In the phase 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 the metabolic processes.
2. Myostimulation: helps restore the functioning of muscle tissue, which is weakening due to a forced decrease in motor activity.
3. Phonophoresis - under the influence of a special device, a special medicine in the form of an ointment or cream is injected into the affected area.
4. Ozone therapy: reduces discomfort and activates the development of cartilage. This effect is achieved thanks to the influence of the ozone-oxygen composition.

Surgical methods

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

1. Puncture - consists of pumping excess fluid out of the joint. Thanks to this, it is possible to stop pain and normalize physical activity.
2. Arthroscopic debridement - involves cleaning the inner articular surface from the elements of the cartilage and washing the cavity with a special solution.
3. Periarticular osteotomy - is an artificial fracture of the femur. Subsequently, it is spliced at a different angle, which minimizes the load on the joint.
4. Endoprosthesis - 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 right approach to treatment, compliance with all medical prescriptions, maintaining the right lifestyle, performing therapeutic exercises, courses of regular massage, intake of vitamins and proper nutrition, you can stop the process of damage and destruction of the 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.

Quite often, people with this diagnosis are advised to wear a soft bandage. Using an orthosis 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 the ability to work and cannot lead an active lifestyle. This condition is very dangerous for the elderly. If you don't help a person, their life expectancy is significantly reduced.

Forecast

The pathology has a favorable prognosis for life. In addition, the disease usually develops slowly. 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 condition that can cause a complete loss of motor activity. To avoid this, it is necessary to consult a doctor in a timely manner and strictly follow her recommendations.