Hip osteoarthritis is a general term for a group of diseases, including all degenerative diseases of the hip joint that destroy cartilage tissue, with a progressive nature. This disease has another name - hip disease. The disease is characterized by pain in the aforementioned areas, which is difficult to treat and diagnose.
Causes and mechanisms of hip joint disease
Arthropathy of the hip joint is divided into primary and secondary. Primary is a disease that develops independently of other factors, for example, as a side effect of the natural aging process. Secondary arthropathy is the result of complications of different natures.
With a healthy pelvis, the distance between the femoral head and the acetabulum is clearly visible on the X-ray. This indicates that the cartilage covering the thigh is in optimal condition and is also a sign of the absence of arthropathy. If the distance is not obvious, the cartilage has been damaged, which means that there is every reason to assume that the above diseases are present. This form of arthropathy is not hereditary, that is, it is usually not inherited. However, factors such as weak cartilage, fragile bones, and metabolic disturbances can be passed down from generation to generation and can trigger the development of arthropathy.
However, the main cause of this disease is various infectious, traumatic diseases. E. g:
- Hip dislocation and hip dysplasia are the most commonly diagnosed congenital disorders in early childhood using ultrasonography. Early detection of this pathology, which occurs in 10% of newborns, is important because developmental abnormalities can only be corrected in the first two years of a child's life.
- Infectious and chronic inflammatory diseases such as tuberculosis of the hip. This disease is especially dangerous because diagnosis is so difficult. Often the symptoms are so mild that they are mistaken for another disease. Even x-rays are sometimes only helpful in identifying TB at an advanced stage where full recovery is not possible. This is all compounded by the country's lack of narrow specialists who can properly diagnose and treat the disease.
- Metabolic and thyroid disorders, such as diabetes.
- Perthes disease, which most commonly affects boys. With this disease, the femoral head is affected, its blood circulation is disturbed, and therefore the cartilage tissue is affected.
- Various mechanical injuries, such as hip injuries and dislocations.
symptom
Arthropathy is an extremely dangerous disease because it can be completely asymptomatic at first. Often, it is only by lucky chance that an X-ray finds the disease in a patient, and he finds no signs of it himself.
Arthropathy of the hip can be grade 1, 2, or 3, depending on the severity of the disease. First-degree arthropathy is characterized by pain only during physical exertion, such as walking, and only the joint itself is painful. On an X-ray, the distance between the femoral head and the cavity is about half the normal distance. With secondary disease, the pain is exacerbated, radiates to the groin, may be present even at rest, and lameness may occur. The third degree is the most severe, and the pain is permanent when the patient cannot move independently without help. Because of the shortened legs, the person is forced to lean to one side when walking.
diagnosis
When making a diagnosis, it is important to take a correct medical history. In this case, first of all, attention should be paid to the nature and duration of pain, the location of pain points, the atrophy of muscles and nerve endings, the gait characteristics of the patient, and the state of blood circulation in the extremities.
In conclusion, X-ray examination is decisive in diagnosing hip arthropathy, but other tests may be required, such as: MRI of the thigh, puncture of the painful area, tomography of the extremities, ultrasonography.
treatment of disease
First, in the treatment of arthropathy, pain must be eliminated, or at least reduced to a level that the patient can tolerate. For this purpose, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used, which not only fight pain but also relieve inflammation.
Drugs are then prescribed to provide nutrients to the cartilage tissue, which is able to restore it, but only in the early stages of the disease. If necessary, hormone injections are also prescribed. However, only a doctor can prescribe all of the above!
There is the use of physical therapy (although many experts consider this treatment a waste of time). This is a special massage, laser therapy, manual therapy, physiotherapy practice. However, these procedures require a lot of time, as well as the patient's funds, and at the same time are not the definitive method of treatment.
However, with third-degree arthropathy, doctors usually insist on surgical intervention while replacing the destroyed joint with a prosthesis.
Folk remedies for arthropathy
Traditional medicine also does not rule out treating serious diseases. Various ointments and compresses made from birch leaves, burdock, and cabbage can be used for these purposes. They were pounded into a gruel and then tied to the sore spot.
A mixture of honey, alcohol, iodine and glycerin is used as a dressing. Traditional medicine has confirmed the effectiveness of nettle decoction baths. Also, treatment with bee stings has become very popular in getting rid of this disease. Honey tincture, carrot tincture, beet tincture tincture, turnip tincture and aloe vera juice must be poured and soaked with vodka for a week, after which the tinctures can be consumed once a day, 20 grams each time.
Prevent hip disease
In general, preventive measures include strict weight control (since being overweight puts a lot of stress on the hip joint), properly distributing physical activity so that the joint is not overloaded, and contacting a specialist promptly.
Hip arthropathy is an extremely unpleasant and serious condition with serious complications, but prompt consultation with a qualified physician will help avoid the dire consequences of this condition.