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

Osteoarthritis of the hip joint is a complex pathology that can have dangerous health consequences.

In order to slow down its development and deal with dangerous symptoms, you need to see a doctor in time. The specialist will make the correct diagnosis and select the appropriate treatment.

Clinical picture and pathology classification

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

Most often, the 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.

In the initial phase of the disease, periodic pain occurs in the joint area. Without proper therapy, the disease progresses, which can lead to disability.

Causes and provoking factors

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

1. Hormonal imbalance - may have an 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 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 - 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 appear periodically. The triggering factor is prolonged physical activity. After a short rest, the discomfort subsides.
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 atrophy of the muscles of the buttocks, thighs and leg. When moving, a person needs to rely on his toes and lean to the damaged 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. In addition, groin discomfort 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 has to use a cane or crutches.
3. Shortening of the affected limb.
4. Lameness.
5. A crisis in the joint that appears with any movement.
6. Rigidity of movements.
7. Muscle tissue atrophy 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 size of the joint space, bone growths, etc.
3. Ultrasound procedure.
4. Bloodtests.
5. MRI image.

If necessary, the inner surface of the joint is examined with arthroscopic instruments. Differential diagnosis is performed to exclude gonarthrosis, lumbosacral or thoracic osteochondrosis. Pain in arthrosis can be disguised as clinical manifestations of radicular syndrome caused by pinching or nerve inflammation. It is usually possible to exclude neurogenic pathology with the help of various tests. Arthrosis 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 deal with osteoarthritis 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 lifestyle and adhere to a special diet.

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

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

Conservative therapy

Medical treatment aims to solve these problems:

• pain relief;
• normalization of tissue nutrition;
• stimulation of the regeneration process;
• better blood flow;
• reduced pressure on damaged areas;
• widening of the joint space.

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

1. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These medications relieve pain and inflammation. However, they are not able to restore the affected cartilage.
2. Chondroprotectors. They provide nutrients to tissues and prevent joint destruction, which helps restore joint function.
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 provide the tissues with useful substances.

Popular and alternative media

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, mummies, honey, medicinal plants.
2. Ointments from natural ingredients. For its preparation, you can use eucalyptus oil, aloe vera, celandine.
3. Baths and compresses. To stop the symptoms of arthrosis, compresses based on cabbage leaves and Jerusalem artichoke baths can be used.

Physiotherapy

In the remission stage, physical therapy 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 dermis regeneration process and stimulates 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 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 procedures are prescribed:

1. Puncture - is to pump excess fluid from the joint. Thanks to this, it is possible to stop the pain and normalize physical activity.
2. Arthroscopic debridement - involves cleaning the inner articular surface of cartilage 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, maintenance of the correct lifestyle, therapeutic exercises, regular massage courses, intake of vitamins and proper nutrition, you can stop the process of damage and destruction of cartilage and hip joints.

orthopedic products

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

People with this diagnosis are often advised to wear a soft bandage. Wearing an orthosis helps to reduce the load on the affected area, protects it from dislocation 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 lifestyle. This condition is very dangerous for the elderly. If you don't help a person, their life expectancy is significantly reduced.

Prediction

The 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 fatal.

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