Arthrosis of the hip joint is a disease of the musculoskeletal system with a progressive course and a chronic nature. Dystrophic changes begin in cartilage tissue, which changes its structure, becomes loose, fibrous, becomes thinner and loses its cushioning 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.
Clinical picture and causes of arthrosis
Osteoarthritis of the hip joint occupies a leading position among the diseases of the musculoskeletal system and mainly affects the adult population after the age of 35. In the medical classifier, he was assigned the code M16 according to MBK 10.
The hip joint is the largest in the human body and takes on the greatest load. It connects the bones to the pelvis and has a spherical appearance. The round head of the femur is inserted into the acetabular recess. Its surface is covered with cartilage tissue, which allows the bones to slide and performs shock absorbing functions, protecting the bones from friction, destruction and providing range of motion.
The mechanism of osteoarthritis is simple:
- The amount of synovial fluid decreases, as a result of which the joint is washed worse by it, and the supply of nutrients decreases.
- The joint structure loosens. Due to friction, the cartilage thins, it stops relieving the pressure on the bones.
- Growths (osteophytes) form along the edges of the bone sites.
- The joint gap is gradually reduced.
- The person experiences severe pain, movement problems, the limb shortens, causing lameness.
Osteoarthritis of the hip 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 some pathologies.
Main reason:
- trauma;
- loads of power, especially in the post-traumatic period, when the joint has not yet recovered;
- overweight;
- congenital anomaly of the femoral head (dysplasia);
- inheritance;
- arthritis (joint inflammation);
- prolonged 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 two-sided option, when the pathological process affects both sides.
Symptoms and degrees of arthrosis
The clinic of arthrosis directly depends on the stage of the disease. At first, a person begins to experience slight discomfort in the groin and morning stiffness of the leg, while swelling and swelling of the soft tissues does not occur. As the pathology develops, an acute period begins, characterized by intense pain.
In a note. When the first symptoms are found, it is necessary to consult a doctor and undergo an examination. Early disease responds well to treatment.
The main complaint of all patients is pain and limited mobility. Their severity depends on the dystrophic changes in the cartilage.
There are 3 degrees of the disease:
- At 1 degree, only discomfort arises after prolonged physical exertion (climbing uphill, running, cycling), which disappears by itself after rest. The muscles are in good shape, the movements are not restricted. A narrowing of the joint space can be observed on the x-ray.
- At 2 degrees pain begins, which is given to the groin area, spread to the buttock and front of the thigh. There are "initial" pains when trying to get up or start walking, which disappear after 2-3 minutes. After prolonged exertion, the pain increases and disappears at rest. A symptom of arthrosis is a characteristic crunch in the joint, movements are limited (hip abduction), muscle strength decreases, with painful sensations, smooth muscle spasm occurs. On the x-ray, small osteophytes are visible, which are located along the edges of the bony areas of the joints. The neck of the femur is thickened and widened, the joint space is significantly narrowed.
- At 3 degrees of the disease, the pain is permanent and does not subside even at rest. When walking, patients use improvised items (cane, crutch). There is an atrophy of the muscle tissue of the thigh and lower leg, the limb is shortened - in order to reach the ground, the patient is forced to stand on the tips of the fingers. The X-ray image shows massive osteophytes, the head of the femur is flattened, the joint space is practically invisible.
Some doctors also distinguish the 4th degree of the disease. Ossification of the joint and complete disability occurs on it, a person cannot move without the help of crutches. The degree of arthrosis is established on the basis of X-ray images, which help to clarify the etiology of the pathological process.
The following types of osteoarthritis are distinguished:
- dysplastic - the slope of the acetabulum is determined;
- post-traumatic - depends on the nature of the injury and the shape of the joint after the fusion of the bones.
Children's arthrosis
The causes of pathology in children are trauma, subluxations and dysplasia. Metabolic disorders can result in the destruction of cartilage tissue.
The main symptom of the disease in children is pain syndrome after long games. As osteoarthritis develops, they become more intense and stronger. The child refuses to run, his appetite decreases, excessive crying appears. The second symptom is limited movement in the affected joint, numbness in the leg. Parents need to pay attention to the characteristic crunch. If the first symptoms are found, it is urgent to consult a doctor.
In a note. A child's body regenerates faster than an adult's. Timely treatment will save the child from disability.
If the diagnosis is confirmed, the main goal is to improve the blood supply to the joint. For this, the doctor prescribes various procedures of physiotherapy, physical therapy, visits to sanatoriums, medications.
Prevention consists in proper nutrition. Particularly important are vitamins of group B, C, D. It is necessary to walk a lot in the fresh air, actively move and avoid traumatic situations.
Difference between osteoarthritis and other joint diseases
Many patients, having heard the diagnosis "arthrosis", confuse it with other joint diseases. Doctors often note "coxarthrosis" in the medical history. Consonant words confuse the patient.
Osteoarthritis is the generic name of the pathological processes that cause the destruction of cartilage tissue. It usually disappears with joint deformity without infectious and inflammatory processes. It can affect the knee, elbow, shoulder and other joints. Coxarthrosis is osteoarthritis of the hip joint, as indicated by the prefix "cox", which highlights a specific area.
What is the difference between sacroiliitis and osteoarthritis? In the first case, inflammation of the sacroiliac joint occurs, which is characterized by pain in the sacrum when sitting. There is swelling in the vertebrae, pain in the buttocks. With osteoarthritis, thinning of the cartilage occurs, as a result of which friction of the bones begins - this causes pain.
Arthritis is an inflammatory process in the joint tissue. The difference with osteoarthritis is that the latter is caused by mechanical movements that lead to abrasion of the cartilage. With arthritis, swelling and redness occur in the joint region, the cause is infectious diseases or inflammatory processes within the body. The reactive stage of the disease almost always causes osteoarthritis. Pain sensations are similar, but with coxarthrosis they decrease at night, and with arthritis they become stronger.
The clinical picture is similar. To correctly diagnose and rule out arthritis and sacroiliitis, doctors conduct a blood draw and analysis. An increase in the content of leukocytes and ESR indicates an inflammatory process in the body.
Diet
With osteoarthritis, long-term and complex treatment is required, which is based on drugs, physiotherapy, physical therapy and massage, while diet plays an important role. Proper nutrition is necessary both in the phase of exacerbation and in remission. It should be balanced and contain all essential vitamins. In addition, the diet promotes weight loss, which reduces the stress on the joints.
Permitted products:
- vegetables and fruit;
- lean meats;
- crumbly porridge on water;
- dairy product;
- bran bread;
- a fish;
- honey;
- mushrooms;
- peanuts.
The menu should include jelly. On its basis, you can prepare various desserts with berries and fruits, as well as jellied meat. Eat cottage cheese, yogurt, and milk every day. It is best to replace chicken eggs with quail eggs. Boil, simmer or steam. Eliminate fried and fatty foods. Give preference to vegetable oils. Drink at least 1. 5 clean water per day. The temperature of the food must be neither too high nor too low.
Avoid quick fast food snacks with sweet carbonated water. Exclude semi-finished products, sausages, conservation. Prefer natural products with no added preservatives.
What is forbidden:
- pickles;
- smoked products;
- white bread and baked goods;
- hot spices;
- garlic;
- radish;
- fatty meats;
- Salò;
- canned food;
- Mayonnaise;
- high-fat dairy products;
- carbonated drinks;
- alcohol.
Important. Food intake should be frequent, at least 5-6 times a day, 200 grams. Snacks are best done 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 root causes of the disease and general strengthening measures.
To prevent the development of the disease, it is necessary to adhere to the following rules:
- To live an active lifestyle. It is recommended to swim, exercise without stress on the joint. Preventive methods include a bath and sauna, which improve blood flow and remove toxins.
- Follow a diet. This is necessary in order to provide the body with the necessary vitamins and accelerate metabolic processes.
- Avoid hypothermia. Cold temperatures cause muscle cramps, which impairs the blood supply to the joint.
- To minimize the possibility of trauma, especially with the development of coxarthrosis.
Subject to the rules, patient reviews have been positive. They noted a decrease in pain, the restoration of joint mobility and an improvement in well-being.
Coxarthrosis or osteoarthritis of the hip 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. In the absence of therapy, a person becomes disabled, and in this case, only surgery and joint replacement can restore the musculoskeletal system.