Hip osteoarthritis is a progressive term for a group of diseases that includes all the degenerative diseases of the degenerative system of the hip. This disease has another name - coxarthrosis. The disease is characterized by pain in the above area and is difficult to treat and diagnose.
Causes and mechanism of development of hip arthrosis
Hip arthrosis of the hip joint is divided into primary and secondary. The primary is a disease that has developed on its own, independently of other factors, such as as a side effect of the natural aging process. Secondary arthrosis is the result of a complication of a disease of a different nature.
In the case of a healthy pelvis, the distance between the femoral head and the acetabulum is clearly visible on the X-ray. This indicates the optimal condition of the cartilage covering the thigh, as well as a sign of the absence of arthrosis. If the distance is not noticeable, the cartilage is damaged, which means we have every reason to suspect the presence of the disease described above. This form of arthrosis is not of genetic origin, i. e. it is not usually inherited. However, factors such as cartilage weakness, bone fragility, and metabolic disorders can be passed down from generation to generation and can trigger the development of arthrosis.
However, the main causes of this disease are various infectious diseases of a traumatological nature. For example:
- Hip dislocation, hip dysplasia, is a congenital disease that is most commonly diagnosed in early childhood with ultrasound diagnosis. It is very important that this pathology, which occurs in ten percent of newborns, be identified as early as possible because correction of dysplasia is only possible in the first two years of a child’s life.
- Infectious and chronic inflammatory diseases such as tuberculosis of the hip joint. This disease is especially dangerous because of the very difficult diagnosis. The symptoms are often so mild that they are confused with another disease. Even an X-ray sometimes only helps identify tuberculosis at an advanced stage, when complete recovery is no longer possible. All this is exacerbated by the shortage of a specialist in the country to diagnose and treat the disease correctly.
- Metabolic and thyroid disorders such as diabetes mellitus.
- Perthes is the disease that most commonly affects boys. In this disease, the femoral head suffers, its blood circulation is disrupted, as a result of which the cartilage tissue suffers.
- Various mechanical injuries, such as injuries and displacements of the hip joint.
Symptoms
Arthrosis is an extremely dangerous disease as it can be completely asymptomatic at first. Often, it is only fortunate that an X-ray examination accidentally reveals the presence of this disease in a patient who has found no signs of it.
Hip arthrosis of the hip joint may be first, second, or third degree, depending on the severity of the disease. Grade 1 arthrosis is characterized by pain only during physical exertion, such as walking, and only by the joint itself. On X-ray, the distance between the femoral head and the cavity is about half the normal distance. In case of second-degree illness, the pain intensifies, radiates to the groin and may be present at rest, and lameness may occur. The third degree is most severe when the patient is unable to move independently without aids, the pain is persistent. One is forced to lean to one side while walking due to the shortening of the leg.
Diagnostics
It is important to make a correct medical history when making a diagnosis. In this case, the nature and duration of the pain, the location of the pain points, the atrophy of the muscles and nerve endings, the characteristics of the patient's gait, and the condition of the blood circulation in the limbs are drawn to attention.
In addition, X-rays are crucial in the diagnosis of hip arthrosis, but additional tests may be needed, such as: thigh MRI, puncture from the painful area, tomography of the limbs, ultrasound.
Treatment of the disease
Above all, in the treatment of arthrosis, the pain should be removed or at least reduced to a level that the patient can tolerate. To do this, they use NSAIDs that not only fight pain but also relieve inflammation.
They then prescribe drugs that nourish the cartilage tissue that are able to recover, but only in the early stages of the disease. If necessary, hormonal injections are also prescribed. However, all of the above medications can only be prescribed by a doctor!
They use physiotherapy (although many experts consider such treatment a waste of time). It is a special massage, laser treatment, manual therapy, physiotherapy exercises. However, these procedures take a lot of time as well as the patient’s money, while they are not the dominant treatment.
However, in grade 3 arthrosis, doctors usually insist on surgery while replacing the destroyed joint with a prosthesis.
Folk methods of treating arthrosis
Nor does traditional medicine lag behind the treatment of serious illnesses. For this purpose, various ointments and compresses are used, which are made from birch leaves, burdock and cabbage. It is rubbed with a knife and then tied in place of the pain.
A mixture of honey, alcohol, iodine and glycerin is used as a compress. Traditional medicine confirms the effectiveness of nettle baths. In addition, bee bite treatment has become very popular to get rid of the disease. The tincture of honey, carrots, beets, radishes and aloe juice should be poured with vodka and infused for a week, then the tincture can be drunk once a day, 20 grams each.
Prevention of coxarthrosis
As a general rule, preventive measures include strict weight control (as being overweight puts a lot of strain on the hip joints), proper distribution of physical activity so as not to overload the joints, and in the event of the slightest suspicion, consult a specialist in time. .
Hip arthrosis of the hip is an extremely unpleasant and serious disease that threatens serious complications, but timely consultation with a qualified doctor will help you avoid the dire consequences of the disease.