Symptoms and treatment of hip arthritis

Osteoarthritis of the hip is a disease of the elderly, caused by the degeneration of cartilage tissue. The degenerative process of the hip joint is accelerated by the mismatch of the joint surfaces, which leads to abnormal friction. In some patients, the disease develops due to ischemia of the femoral head following a femoral neck fracture or direct injury to the articular cartilage, in 50% of cases the cause is unknown. Doctors diagnose hip osteoarthritis using x-rays and computed tomography.

Treatment of hip deformity is carried out using the latest drugs, which are highly effective and have few side effects. Doctors discuss severe cases of coxarthrosis and decide on treatment tactics for each patient. Rehabilitation therapists use innovative methods of rehabilitation therapy to slow the progression of cartilage degeneration.

Deformity of the hip (coxarthrosis)

Signs of hip arthritis

Patients with joint deformity complain of sudden episodes of stiffness in the hip, which appear after rest and disappear after some activity. At first, mild pain lasts for 1 to 2 days, then gradually increases after long periods of weight bearing.

Typically, a defensive limp occurs as a result of muscle spasms, which are accompanied by increasing pain and stiffness. Osteoarthritis of the left hip is manifested by the same symptoms as fibromyalgia of the right hip. Pain in arthritis of the hip is localized along the anterolateral or posterior surface of the joint, depending on the site of inflammation. It radiates to the front and inner surfaces of the thighs and to the pores. Pain syndrome intensifies after prolonged stress on the extremities and movements, especially in the direction of internal rotation, abduction, and stretching. Patients often complain of increased pain in wet and cold weather and note relief in warmth and after administration of acetylsalicylic acid preparations.

In the acute phase of hip-hip arthritis, the patient noted pain at the site of the cystitis, accompanied by muscle spasms compressing the accessory muscles of the thigh. Orthopedists perform the Faber maneuver: the patient places the heel of the affected limb on the back of the healthy foot and slides it over the tibial skin of the lower leg to the knee. It will be active for any inflammatory processes in the hip joint.

In the early stages of hip arthritis, there are no changes on radiographs. Subsequently, radiologists occasionally discovered subchondral sclerosis, which gradually led to narrowing of the joint space. An additional sign is the flattened tip at its upper pole, which is accompanied by cystic changes in this area.

Degree of hip osteoarthritis

As it progresses, hip deformity undergoes several stages, respectively, distinguishing three degrees of disease.

Grade 1 joint deformity is the early stage of the disease, when the structure of the joint tissues has not yet changed markedly. Pain syndrome often does not appear, if it does arise, it is against the background of an inflammatory process. Patients may complain of stiffness and fatigue in the limbs. Often the first degree of hip osteoarthritis has no symptoms.

With 2nd degree joint deformity, morphological changes are obvious. The joint surfaces are uneven, with significant bony growths on them. The bone tissue in the joint area becomes less strong. Due to the inflammatory process, the synovial membrane thickens greatly. The pain can be dull, aching naturally and continuously, or it can be sudden and strong.

In the case of grade 3 osteoarthritis, the pain becomes intense and does not go away even with long rest. Mobility in the affected joint is reduced, the axis of the limb may be disturbed. Sores and areas of decay can form in the cartilage tissue that covers the joint surface.

How to treat osteoarthritis of the hip

Conservative treatment of the hip is carried out with exacerbations of the disease. It includes lifting the limbs, traction, keeping warm and massage. To reduce the inflammatory process, salicylates are prescribed. Glucocorticoid injections are performed for grade 1 and 2 hip arthritis. In the third stage of hip deformity, the only effective treatment is a planned arthroscopic hip replacement.

Complex treatment of diseases of the hip is carried out with physiotherapy and occupational therapy, with dietary adjustments. Effective therapy in the early stages of the disease allows patients with grade 1 and grade 2 hip osteoarthritis to avoid joint degeneration and limit the use of drugs.

Surgical treatment of deformity of coxarthrosis

With stage 3 warts, when conservative treatment does not bring about remission, only restoration can help patients reduce pain and discomfort, restore the patient's joy of movement. If there is fluid in the joint, it is pumped out after puncture. Corticosteroid hormones are injected simultaneously into the hip joint.

With the help of arthroscopy, the inner surface of the joint is cleaned of altered pieces of cartilage tissue, and the cavity of the joint is rinsed with a therapeutic solution to reduce the inflammatory process. Perimeter osteotomy is an artificial fracture of the femur followed by its fusion at another angle. Surgery can reduce stress on the joint.

Rehabilitation methods for treatment of joint deformities

To treat patients with osteoarthritis of the hip can apply the following forms of physical therapy:

  • shock wave therapy - exposure to sound waves provides blood flow to the desired area of the body, stimulates regenerative processes and speeds up metabolism;
  • muscle stimulation, restoring the activity of muscles that have been weakened by the forced limitation of movements in the joint;
  • Electrophoresis is a method that combines the advantages of ultrasonic waves and drugs on the body (under the influence of the device, the drug in the form of ointment or cream penetrates more effectively through the skin to the hip joint);
  • ozone therapy - relieves discomfort and activates the growth of cartilage tissue due to the properties of the ozone-oxygen mixture.

Kinesitherapy is considered the basis for successful treatment of joint disease in any location. The regular implementation of a system of special exercises strengthens the ligaments and muscles around the joints affected by the pathological process, helps to relieve discomfort from everyday stress. Exercise therapy instructors select each exercise for grade 1, 2, and 3 hip osteoarthritis. Rehabilitation clinic specialists perform a variety of massages, including drainage. lymphatic system, using innovative manual therapy techniques that aim to work passively with muscles, ligaments and joints. Methods used to help people with coxarthrosis reduce the need for medications and injections to deform joints, helping to reduce the pharmacological burden on the body.

The rehabilitation clinic is equipped with state-of-the-art mechanical and computer simulation machines from the world's leading manufacturers. They help to move joints without significant physical exertion, which is in particular need in the elderly. Joint enlargement with the help of a special traction device or the hands of a chiropractor increases the space inside the joint, helps to reverse the pathological process by a few steps, relieves symptoms and allowsbody time to restore the function of joints. hip joint.

Dietary therapy is necessary for all patients with osteoarthritis, but most importantly for those who are overweight. Losing weight reduces stress on inflamed joints and improves metabolism. In combination with other conservative methods, a well-balanced diet allows you to forget about pain and other manifestations of rheumatic-arthritis.

Gymnastics to cure hip joint disease

Exercises for treating osteoarthritis of the hip are not indicated in the following cases:

  • with exacerbations of paroxysmal-arthritis;
  • after a recent major surgery;
  • in the presence of hernia, acute diseases of internal organs;
  • during menstruation;
  • with an increase in body temperature above 37. 50WITH.

The therapist selects all exercises individually. The instructor of exercise therapy takes into account the age of the patient, the severity of the pathological process and the presence of concomitant diseases. With joint deformity, well-chosen gymnastics must provide a useful load to the muscles and ligaments of the hip, but not to the joint, as it has worn out.

The complex of exercises for osteoarthritis of the hip includes more static exercises than dynamic exercises. Static exercises are exercises where you need to hold your body in place for a few seconds. If such movements are enough, the muscles and ligaments of the leg will receive the necessary load to restore the joint. The hip joint itself participates minimally in such exercises and does not wear out.