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, tight movements, lame walking makes a person think about the appearance of pathology.
In recent years, the number of people under 30 who have been diagnosed with arthrosis has increased dramatically. This statistic is extremely disappointing, as the disease progresses steadily and can lead to serious disability and incapacity. To protect yourself from the development of negative effects, you should immediately start treatment and follow all medical recommendations.
Arthrosis of the hip joint causes a lot of discomfort for its owner. If there are concerns in the joint area, it is necessary to consult a doctor to confirm the diagnosis and prescribe an effective treatment. Late treatment can cost the patient the ability to walk independently.
What is arthrosis?
Arthrosis is a rheumatological disease, which is 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. The joints of the hands, feet, and knees suffer most often, but the most serious disease is arthrosis of the hip joint. As it develops, the risk of developing complete disability increases due to severe limitations in movement.
The base of the articular cartilage consists of collagen molecules and proteoglycans: they are what give the joint strength and elasticity, make it resistant to various types of loads. Under the influence of external factors, the amount of collagen and proteoglycans decreases, resulting in the depletion and gradual destruction of cartilage tissue. Arthrosis develops under the influence of the following factors:
- mechanical injuries;
- 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 a lack of protein products and calcium;
- hereditary predisposition;
- operations transferred to nodes.
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 overwork. Worsening discomfort can occur after an injury. Arthrosis of the hip joint is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Pain in the affected limb. It is dull, aching in nature, constant throughout the day. Unpleasant sensations increase during physical activity (exercise, running or walking), decrease at rest. When the hip joint is affected, the pain radiates to the groin, perineum and thigh. This joint can also begin to "respond" to changes in weather conditions or atmospheric pressure.
- Atrophic muscle changes. When walking, the patient unconsciously spares the affected limb, resulting in less stress on the muscles of the buttocks and thighs. This is accompanied by their atrophy and decrease in volume. This is especially evident with unilateral arthrosis.
- The appearance of a crisis during the implementation of movements in the joint. This sound resembles the rustling of a plastic bag and becomes stronger after a long period of immobility (night sleep). In medicine, this term is called "crepitus". The appearance of a crisis is associated with a violation of joint mobility.
- Expansion of the affected joint in volume. This happens as a result of the formation on the bone surfaces of smaller spikes - osteophytes. Such a reaction occurs as a compensatory response to an increase in the load on the bone surface (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 aims to reduce pain and slow down the progression of the disease. Most often, the following groups of drugs are used in therapy:
- Non-narcotic analgesics and mixed-acting analgesics. They help reduce pain and are available in tablets or ampoules for intravenous administration.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the form of topical 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 the progression of the disease and improve joint function.
Exercise therapy and physiotherapy methods
Non-pharmacological agents are also widely used in the fight against the disease. Doctors prescribe exercise therapy to patients to strengthen muscles and prevent the development of joint immobility. The nature of the exercises and the frequency of their implementation are determined individually for each case. Treatment of arthrosis also includes such physiotherapeutic procedures as:
- transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation;
- acupuncture;
- magnetic therapy;
- electrophoresis with analgesics;
- laser therapy;
- massage.
To reduce the load on the affected limb, the patient is also recommended to use a cane or a walker. It will be helpful to wear a hip orthosis, a special device that helps restore leg function and avoid further damage to the joint.
Surgery
Endoprosthetics are prescribed when conservative methods of treating arthrosis of the hip joint are ineffective. The goal of the operation is to eliminate the pain syndrome and restore the motor function of the limbs. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia in a specialized hospital, after which the patient will have a long rehabilitation. The most favorable birth prognosis is in patients aged 40 to 75 years with a body weight of up to 70 kg: the probability of endoprosthesis rejection is minimized in them, which makes the treatment of arthrosis extremely effective. On average, the prosthesis lasts about 10-12 years, but there have been cases of its successful use with minimal wear for 20-25 years.