How to treat osteoarthritis of the hip joint: methods and tools

Coxarthrosis is a disease that affects the patient's hip joint. Treatment is long term. Just a few decades ago, that diagnosis was practically a sentence for a patient that promised him: severe and excruciating pain, gradual decrease in mobility and early disability.

But thanks to the most effective modern treatment methods, it has been possible not only to suspend the degenerative process, but even to completely cure coxarthrosis in the early stages.

Understanding the causes of the disease has led to the use of an integrated approach to therapy. Treatment of osteoarthritis of the hip joint may include both taking medications and physical therapy methods.

What is hip osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is a disease in which the normal structure of the cartilage tissue of the joints is disturbed. Unlike arthritis, the cause of the deformity is not an infectious inflammation of the tissues, but a violation of metabolic processes.

Deforming osteoarthritis of the hip joint is observed, with rare exceptions, in patients over 40 years of age. The development of the pathology is as follows:

• Metabolism is disturbed. Cartilage has no blood vessels, so it is nourished by adjacent muscle tissue. For various reasons, the synthesis of substances is interrupted.
• Due to insufficient nutrition, cartilage begins to lose its elasticity. Over time, it becomes thinner. The interosseous lumen is significantly reduced. Arthrosis in the hip joint grade 3 is characterized by the fact that growths in bone tissue rub against each other. Cartilage is practically absent.

• The load on the bone, reducing the thickness of the cartilage, contributes to the deformation of the bone tissue.

After the onset of degenerative changes, it may take years for the patient to develop the third stage of the disease, but in unfavorable circumstances and in case of non-observance of precautions, pathological changes can occur much faster.

How osteoarthritis manifests itself

The symptoms of osteoarthritis of the hip joint and its nature depend on the degree of development of the disease. The most common symptom is pain. It is because of the pain that patients often turn to a doctor for qualified help. In addition, the insidious thing about the disease is that at the early stage of degenerative changes, pain, as a rule, does not cause great inconvenience, is short-lived, and is often attributed to ordinary fatigue.

The delay leads to the fact that the most opportune moment to start treatment is missed, and curing grade 2 osteoarthritis of the hip requires more time and effort. The chances of a successful prognosis still remain, as long as the therapy is prescribed correctly.

The symptoms of the disease are:

1. Pain: can appear in the thigh, groin and in the joint itself. It is worth being careful if pain symptoms appear at rest. This indicates the need for an urgent visit to an arthrologist.
2. Stiffness of movement, limp. It is observed after prolonged immobility of the leg, for example, after sleeping.
3. Over time, the diseased leg becomes shorter than the healthy one, atrophy of muscle tissue is observed, which is palpable.

In the diagnosis of a disease, modern diagnostic studies cannot be dispensed with. So, grade 1 hip osteoarthritis is diagnosed only with the help of X-ray, CT scan and MRI. The image clearly shows the changes and narrowing of the interosseous lumen.

Stages of hip osteoarthritis

After diagnosing a pathology, the patient is assigned a code according to ICD 10. This is an international classification of diseases, which is revised every 10 years.

Thanks to the assigned code, not only statistics are collected. The therapies that have given the most tangible results can be selected. Thanks to international cooperation, the medical treatment of hip osteoarthritis has improved significantly over time.

In world practice, osteoarthritis of the hip joint is recognized as having three stages or stages of development. Each of them has its own symptoms. Namely:

1. First stage.Pain sensations arise only in the context of overexertion: running, exercising, exercising, etc. The pain is mainly concentrated in the joint area. The pain usually goes away on its own after a break. In this case, the mobility of the leg remains in its entirety, the muscle strength is not limited. First degree osteoarthritis can only be diagnosed with X-rays or CT. The image clearly shows small deformations of the bone tissue, which do not go beyond the so-called articular lip. The joint space narrows slightly, usually in irregular areas.
2. Second stage.Characterized by migratory pains that begin to spread to the groin, thigh. It can occur spontaneously during rest. Pain in osteoarthritis of the hip joint in the second stage does not go away on its own and requires the patient to take anesthetics. Range of motion is affected, muscle tissue atrophy is observed. The image clearly shows bony growths and deformities of the femoral head. Perhaps the appearance of a cyst in the most loaded part of the thigh - the acetabulum. Diagnosis of osteoarthritis in the second stage is made quickly. Even with a cursory examination, the pathological changes are obvious. X-rays or MRIs are done to see the extent of the deformity.
3. Third stage.The pain begins to be chronic. It is possible to determine osteoarthritis even without a complete examination. The patient cannot move without a cane, there is a tilt of the pelvis, which causes a shortening of the leg. When moving, the patient has to lean his torso over the damaged joint. As a result, this leads to even greater degenerative changes. The image shows extensive bone deformities. The joint space is almost invisible.

Therapeutic treatment of deforming osteoarthritis of the hip joint is effective only in stages 1-2. The third stage in the development of pathology often leads to the need for surgical intervention.

How to treat osteoarthritis in the hip joint

Regardless of what is used, gymnastics for osteoarthritis of the hip joint or taking medication, all approaches are based on six fundamental principles. Namely:

• Take away the pain.
• Provide normal nutrition to cartilage tissue and, if possible, restore it.
• Improves blood flow to the affected area.
• Reduces stress on the joint.
• Strengthens atrophied muscles.
• Restore joint mobility.

To achieve all six goals, it is necessary to use complex therapy. So, for example, by prescribing injections into the joint, but without taking care of reducing the load on it, you can negate all the beneficial effects of chondroprotectors. Not surprisingly, in global practice, 2 to 10 different approaches are commonly used simultaneously, depending on the patient's condition.

How to treat hip osteoarthritis

A comprehensive approach to the treatment of the hip joint provides better results than the use of a single therapeutic agent; This is a fact recognized by the world's leading arthrologists. Therefore, it is not uncommon for a patient to be simultaneously prescribed several types of treatment of the following:

• NSAIDs: non-steroidal drugs to relieve the inflammatory process are "classics" of treatment. Medications for arthrosis of the hip joint are necessarily prescribed in combination with non-steroidal drugs or in their composition. NSAIDs are especially effective during an exacerbation of the disease. They help to relieve pain and reduce swelling. The reception allows you to perform exercise therapy exercises for arthrosis of the hip joint, go to massages, gymnastics and other physiotherapeutic procedures. The downside of NSAIDs is their negative effect on the gastric mucosa. Patients need to understand that non-steroidal medications for osteoarthritis of the hip do not cure the disease, but simply eliminate the symptoms and make therapy possible.
• Chondroprotectors and hyaluronic acid.These drugs are a new stage in the treatment of the hip joint, so they can be distinguished into a separate group.
  1. Chondroprotectors are prescribed as restorative therapy. With long-term use, chondroprotectors restore damaged cartilage tissue, but their effectiveness is limited by the initial stage of the disease.
  2. Hyaluronic acid creates an intermediate layer between the bones, which reduces stress on the joint. Effective as a restorative therapy.
• Muscle relaxants: These are vasodilator drugs that can relieve spasm of muscle tissue. Prescribed to reduce the load on the joint. Muscle relaxants can only be used as part of complex drug therapy.
• Anesthetic ointment: Despite the advertisements about ointments as a miracle remedy that alleviates the disease, in fact, they only eliminate the unpleasant symptoms of the disease. On the other hand, painkillers in the form of ointments enhance the effectiveness of conservative treatment, allowing you to relieve swelling and alleviate the patient's condition.
• Intra-articular injections- Designed to relieve pain, restore cartilage, or provide protection against excessive pressure on a joint. The most commonly used drugs are corticosteroids. They relieve pain by allowing the patient to begin treatment with physical therapy. The group of corticosteroids can also include hyaluronic acid preparations. The effectiveness of intra-articular injections largely depends on the experience of the surgeon (according to statistics, 30% of doctors, when performing manipulations, lose the joint capsule).

Some drugs can be harmful to the body. It is strictly forbidden to self-medicate!

The bandage of the hip joint will relieve the stress on the joint and reduce the factor, which is the main cause of the appearance of irritation of the tissues that leads to the inflammatory process. Therefore, along with drug therapy, fixation of the damaged area is often prescribed.

Alternative methods and physical therapy

In addition to prescribing anti-inflammatory drugs, intra-articular injections, and other medications, the patient can undergo physiotherapy and use the help of non-traditional therapeutic methods.

• Manual therapy: This procedure has a gentler effect on damaged tissues than massage of the hip joint for osteoarthritis. Any aggressive effect on the damaged area can easily provoke the onset of the inflammatory process. In our area, manual therapy is not yet used, but in the West it is widespread and is one of the official methods of therapy.
• Physiotherapyfor deforming osteoarthritis is a large area in which the patient can choose between traditional and non-traditional methods. With osteoarthritis of the hip, Pilates, yoga are popular, as well as water exercises and other methods to restore the function of atrophied muscles. Physical education and moderate effort, along with medications, have a beneficial effect and contribute to the recovery of the patient.
• Traditional medicine: Most arthrologists are against this method as a standalone therapy. And your opinion has a basis. A large number of patients, having rejected the help of traditional medicine, have earned a disability. But under the supervision of the attending physician, effective treatment of osteoarthritis of the hip joint with folk remedies is quite possible. Most of the herbs and infusions used have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. Some drug charges have serious contraindications, so you should consult with an arthrologist before taking them. Non-conventional alternative methods to treat osteoarthritis of the hip joint are recommended with caution. Some of the recipes not only do not contribute to the improvement, but also lead to the opposite effect, causing accelerated destruction of cartilage.
• Homeopathy: helps to normalize the synthesis of substances in the body. Homeopathy is especially effective in post-traumatic osteoarthritis, allowing you to cope with the main factor that led to the development of the disease.
• Apitherapy: treatment with bee stings is very effective, it allows you to combine the effect of acupuncture and drug therapy. Not surprisingly, many effective hot salves contain processed bee venom. Apitherapy is usually more effective than hip lock. The treating physician must decide whether to use apitherapy.
• Magnetotherapy: it is used as an auxiliary treatment and as prevention of the disease. The effect of the magnet increases blood flow to the tissue, helps to restore metabolic processes. Eliminates salt deposits.
• Hirudotherapy: Leech therapy has been used for several centuries. Leeches' saliva, which enters the bloodstream, has been shown to contain a substance that promotes liquefaction. As a result, blood can even reach atrophied capillaries and blood vessels.
• Mud therapy: has a gentle warming effect, helps to obtain the necessary nutrients. The correct application of mud therapy reduces inflammation and pain. It is prohibited with purulent arthrosis of the hip joint. It is prescribed with caution in the presence of blood clots and vascular disease.
• Shilajit for osteoarthritis: it is used both in pure form and as part of tinctures and compresses. The beneficial substances that make up Mumiyo promote tissue regeneration. Mumiyo is especially effective in the early stages of the disease.
• Self-massage: aggressive clapping and pressure are excluded. When massaging, it is necessary to ensure the flow of blood and lymph. An experienced chiropractor or masseur will show you the types of movements and their direction.

Treatment of osteoarthritis of the hip joint at home using non-traditional methods should be supplemented with adequate nutrition.

Losing weight by just 5 kg will reduce the likelihood of an inflammatory process starting by approximately 30%.

Osteoarthritis in the hip joint and pregnancy

Pregnancy with osteoarthritis in the hip joint is a double stress on the woman's body. Most medications are prohibited during pregnancy. At the very least, they should be taken very carefully so as not to harm the baby.

If osteoarthritis of the hip during pregnancy is in an early stage, it is recommended to postpone treatment with medications until after delivery.

It is possible to give birth with osteoarthritis in the hip joint, but you need to understand all the risks associated with it. Complications after the birth of a child are not uncommon and the deformation of cartilage tissue occurs at an accelerated rate.

Even during the planning of the child, it is necessary to undergo a complete examination of the body. All medications, ointments, and pain relievers can be taken only as directed by a doctor.

Consequences of osteoarthritis

In the later stages of the disease, it is impossible to cure coxarthrosis in the usual way. Surgery is required. The operation is a last resort and can be done in different ways.

1. Joint Replacement: fully restores all motor functions. The disadvantage of this solution is the limited life of the prosthesis. On average, after 15 years, a second operation will be required to replace it.
2. Laser therapy for operated osteoarthritisof the hip joint is used in case of rejection of the articular part of the bone. Using laser therapy, the damaged surface is removed and replaced with an artificial insert.

All types of surgery are temporary, but without them the patient is disabled.

Early diagnosis of coxarthrosis and a correctly prescribed course of restorative therapy is the only reliable way to combat the disease. Ignoring the symptoms leads to disability.