Arthrosis of the hip joint is a disease of the musculoskeletal system with a progressive course and a chronic course. Dystrophic changes begin in the cartilage tissue, which changes its structure, becomes loose, fibrous, thinner and loses its amortization function. As a result, the bone joints begin to rub against each other, motor activity is lost and pain occurs. Without treatment, a person becomes disabled.
Symptoms and causes of osteoarthritis
Arthrosis of the hip joint occupies a leading position among the diseases of the musculoskeletal system and mainly affects the adult population after 35 years. In the medical classifier, it was assigned the M16 code according to MBK 10.
The hip joint is the largest in the human body and takes the greatest strain. It connects the bones to the pelvis and has a spherical appearance. The round head of the femur is inserted into the acetabulum. Its surface is covered with cartilage tissue, which allows the bones to slide and perform shock-absorbing functions, protecting the bones from friction, destruction and freedom of movement.
The mechanism of osteoarthritis is simple:
- The amount of synovial fluid decreases, as a result of which the joint is poorly washed and the supply of nutrients decreases.
- The structure of the joint becomes loose. The cartilage becomes thinner through friction, it no longer relieves the pressure on the bones.
- Growths (osteophytes) form on the edges of the bones.
- The joint gap is gradually reduced.
- The person is in severe pain, has difficulty moving, the limb is shortened, which leads to lameness.
Hip osteoarthritis can develop for several reasons, but more often it is caused by a combination of adverse circumstances. The disease is divided into primary and secondary. In the first case, doctors do not find a reason for the development of the disease, in the second, osteoarthritis occurs due to certain pathologies.
Main reasons:
- Trauma;
- Force loads, especially in the post-traumatic phase, when the joint has not yet recovered;
- Obesity;
- congenital anomaly of the femoral head (dysplasia);
- Inheritance;
- Arthritis (inflammation of the joints);
- persistent stress;
- hormonal changes and diseases of the endocrine system;
- Infectious diseases.
Osteoarthritis can be one-sided, with damage to the right or left hip joint. More often there is a bilateral option when the pathological process affects both sides.
Symptoms and degree of osteoarthritis
The clinic for osteoarthritis depends directly on the stage of the disease. Initially, a person feels slight discomfort in the groin and morning stiffness of the leg, while there is no swelling and swelling of the soft tissues. As the pathology develops, an acute period begins, which is characterized by severe pain.
On a note. When the first symptoms are noticed, it is necessary to consult a doctor and undergo an examination. Early illness responds well to treatment.
The main complaints of all patients are pain and limited mobility. Their severity depends on dystrophic changes in the cartilage.
There are 3 degrees of the disease:
- At 1 degree, symptoms only occur after prolonged physical exertion (mountaineering, running, cycling), which disappear by themselves after rest breaks. The muscles are in good condition and movements are not restricted. A narrowing of the joint space can be seen on the X-ray.
- At 2 degrees, the pain given to the groin begins to spread to the buttocks and the front of the thigh. When standing up or walking, "initial pain" occurs, which disappears after 2-3 minutes. After prolonged exertion, the pain increases and disappears at rest. A symptom of osteoarthritis is a characteristic crunch in the joint, movements are restricted (abduction of the hip), Muscle strength decreases, smooth muscle spasm occurs when the sensations are painful. The x-ray shows small osteophytes located along the edges of the bony areas of the joints. The femoral neck is thickened and widened, the joint space is significantly narrowed.
- With 3 degrees of illness, the pain is permanent and does not subside even when you are at rest. When walking, patients use improvised objects (cane, crutch). Atrophy of the muscle tissue of the thigh and lower leg occurs, the limb is shortened - to reach the floor, the patient must stand on the fingertips. The x-ray shows massive osteophytes, the femoral head is flattened, the joint space is practically invisible.
Some doctors also differentiate between the 4th degree of the disease. There is ossification of the joint and complete disability, a person cannot move without crutches. The degree of arthrosis is determined using X-ray images, which will help clarify the etiology of the pathological process.
A distinction is made between the following types of arthritis:
- dysplastic - the inclination of the acetabulum is determined;
- post-traumatic - depends on the type of injury and the shape of the joint after the fusion of the bones.
Osteoarthritis in children
The causes of pathology in children are trauma, subluxation and dysplasia. Metabolic disorders can lead to the destruction of cartilage tissue.
The main symptom of the disease in children is pain syndrome after long games. As the osteoarthritis progresses, they become more intense and stronger. The child refuses to walk, his appetite decreases, excessive tears appear. The second symptom is restricted movement in the affected joint, numbness of the leg. Parents need to pay attention to the characteristic crunch. If the first symptoms are noticed, it is necessary to urgently consult a doctor.
On a note. A child's body regenerates faster than that of an adult. Timely treatment will save the child from obstruction.
If the diagnosis is confirmed, the main goal is to improve blood flow to the joint. To do this, the doctor prescribes various physiotherapeutic procedures, exercise therapy, visits to sanatoriums, drugs.
Prevention consists in proper nutrition. Vitamins of group B, C, D are especially important. It is necessary to walk a lot in the fresh air, to move actively and to avoid traumatic situations.
Difference between osteoarthritis and other joint diseases
Many patients who have heard the diagnosis "osteoarthritis" confuse it with other diseases of the joints. Doctors often record "coxarthrosis" in the anamnesis. Consonant words confuse the patient.
Osteoarthritis is the general name for pathological processes that lead to the destruction of cartilage tissue. It usually goes away with joint deformities without infectious and inflammatory processes. May affect the knee, elbow, shoulder, and other joints. Coxarthrosis is osteoarthritis of the hip joint, which is indicated by the prefix "Cox" which highlights a specific area.
What is the difference between sacroiliitis and osteoarthritis? In the first case, there is inflammation of the sacroiliac joint, which is characterized by pain in the sacrum when sitting. There is swelling in the vertebrae, pain in the buttocks. With osteoarthritis, the cartilage thins, which starts rubbing the bones - this causes pain.
Arthritis is an inflammatory process in joint tissue. It differs from osteoarthritis in that it is caused by mechanical movements that cause the cartilage to wear off. Arthritis causes swelling and redness in the joint area, caused by infectious diseases or inflammatory processes inside the body. The reactive stage of the disease almost always causes osteoarthritis. The pain sensations are similar, but with coxarthrosis it subsides at night and with arthritis it gets worse.
The clinical picture is similar. To properly diagnose and rule out arthritis and sacroiliitis, doctors will perform a blood draw and analysis. An increased content of leukocytes and ESR indicates an inflammatory process in the body.
diet
Osteoarthritis requires long-term and complex treatment based on medication, physiotherapy, exercise therapy and massage, with diet playing an important role. Proper nutrition is necessary both at the stage of exacerbation and in remission. It should be balanced and contain all the essential vitamins. In addition, the diet promotes weight loss, which reduces stress on the joints.
Allowed products:
- Vegetables and fruits;
- lean meat;
- crumbly mush on the water;
- Dairy products;
- Bran bread;
- a fish;
- Honey;
- Mushrooms;
- Nuts.
The menu should contain gelatin. On its basis, you can prepare various desserts from berries and fruits, as well as jelly. Eat cottage cheese, yogurt, and milk daily. It is better to replace chicken eggs with quail eggs. Boil, simmer, or steam food. Avoid fried and fatty foods. Prefer vegetable oils. Drink at least 1. 5 clean water a day. The temperature of the food should not be too high or too low.
Avoid quick snacks fast food with sweet soda water. Exclude semi-finished products, sausage products, preservation. Prefer natural products without added preservatives.
What is forbidden:
- Pickles;
- smoked products;
- White bread and baked goods;
- hot spices;
- Garlic;
- Radish;
- Fatty Meat;
- Salo;
- Canned food;
- Mayonnaise;
- High fat dairy products;
- Carbonated beverages;
- Alcohol.
Important. Food intake should be frequent, at least 5-6 times a day, 200 grams. Snacks are best prepared with your favorite fruits, you can drink a glass of kefir at night. The diet should not exceed 2000 kcal for women and 3000 kcal for men.
prophylaxis
Preventive measures consist in the timely elimination of the causes of the disease and general strengthening measures.
To prevent the development of the disease, you need to adhere to the following rules:
- To live an active lifestyle. Swimming, exercise without stress on the joints is recommended. Preventive methods include a bath and sauna, which improve blood circulation and remove toxins.
- Follow a diet. This is necessary to provide the body with the necessary vitamins and accelerate metabolic processes.
- Avoid hypothermia. Low temperatures cause muscle spasms that affect blood flow to the joint.
- To minimize the possibility of trauma, especially if you develop coxarthrosis.
Subject to the rules, patient reviews were positive. They noted a reduction in pain, restoration of joint mobility, and an improvement in wellbeing.
Coxarthrosis or hip arthrosis is a disease with a chronic course, phases of exacerbation and remission. Timely treatment allows you to stop the dystrophic process in the cartilage tissue and maintain the mobility of the legs. Without therapy, a person becomes disabled, and in this case only surgery and joint replacement can restore the musculoskeletal system.