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

Coxarthrosis is a disease affecting the patient's hip joint. The treatment is long-term. Just a few decades ago, such a diagnosis was practically a sentence for a patient who promised him: severe, grueling pains, a gradual decrease in mobility and an early disability.

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

Understanding the causes of the disease has resulted in the use of an integrated approach in therapy. Treatment of osteoarthritis of the hip joint can include both medication and physiotherapy methods.

What is hip osteoarthritis

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

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

• The metabolism is impaired. Cartilage has no blood vessels, so it is nourished by adjacent muscle tissue. For various reasons, the synthesis of substances is disrupted.
• Due to insufficient nutrition, the cartilage begins to lose its elasticity. Over time it becomes thinner. The interosseous lumen is significantly reduced. Osteoarthritis in the grade 3 hip joint is characterized by the fact that growths on the bone 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 can take years for the patient to develop the third stage of the disease, but under unfavorable circumstances and non-observance of precautions, pathological changes can occur much faster.

How osteoarthritis manifests itself

Symptoms of arthrosis of the hip joint and their nature depend on the degree of development of the disease. The most common symptom is pain. It is because of the pain that patients most often turn to a doctor for qualified help. In addition, the insidiousness of the disease is that in the initial stage of degenerative changes, pain, as a rule, does not cause great inconvenience, is short-term in nature and is often attributed to ordinary fatigue.

The delay leads to the fact that the most appropriate time to start treatment is missed and the treatment of Grade 2 osteoarthritis of the hip takes more time and effort. The chances of a successful prognosis still remain, provided that the therapy is prescribed correctly.

The symptoms of the disease are:

1. Pain - can occur in the thigh, groin and the joint itself. It is worth paying attention if pain symptoms appear at rest. This indicates the need for an urgent visit to an arthrologist.
2. Stiffness of movement, limping. It is observed after prolonged immobility of the leg, for example after sleep.
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 one cannot do without modern diagnostic studies. Hence, grade 1 hip osteoarthritis is diagnosed only with the help of X-rays, CT, and MRI. The image clearly shows the changes and narrowing of the interosseous lumen.

Phases of hip arthrosis

After diagnosing a disease, 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. You can select therapies that have yielded the most tangible results. Thanks to international interaction, the medical treatment of hip osteoarthritis has improved significantly over time.

In world practice, it is recognized that osteoarthritis of the hip joint has three stages or stages of development. Each of them has its own symptomatology. That means:

1. First stage.Painful sensations arise only against the background of excessive exertion: running, exercise, exercise and so on. The pain is mainly concentrated in the joint area. The pain usually goes away on its own after some rest. In this case, the mobility of the leg remains complete, the muscle strength is not limited. First degree osteoarthritis can only be diagnosed with x-rays or tomography. The image clearly shows small deformities of the bone tissue that do not go beyond the so-called joint lip. Joint space is slightly narrowed, usually in uneven areas.
2. Second stage.Characterized by migratory pains that begin to spread to the groin, thigh. It can occur spontaneously during rest. Pain in arthrosis of the hip joint at the second stage does not go away by itself and requires the patient to take anesthetics. The range of motion is reduced and muscle tissue atrophy is observed. The image clearly shows bone 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 arthrosis in the second stage is carried out quickly. Even with a superficial examination, pathological changes are noticeable. 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 thorough examination. The patient cannot move without a cane, there is a tilt of the pelvis, which leads to a shortening of the leg. When moving, the patient must tilt the torso over the damaged joint. Consequently, this leads to even greater degenerative changes. The image shows extensive bone deformities. The joint crack 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 the 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 basic principles. That means:

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

To achieve all six goals, complex therapy is required. So, for example, by prescribing injections into the joint, but without worrying about reducing its load, all the beneficial effects of chondroprotectors can be canceled. It is not surprising that in world practice, 2 to 10 different approaches are usually used simultaneously, depending on the patient's condition.

How to treat osteoarthritis of the hip

A comprehensive approach to hip joint treatment provides better results than using only one therapeutic agent - this is a fact recognized by leading arthrologists around the world. Therefore, it is not uncommon for a patient to be prescribed several types of treatment at the same time:

• NSAIDs- non-steroidal drugs to relieve the inflammatory process are the "classics" of treatment. Medicines for osteoarthritis of the hip joint are necessarily prescribed in combination with non-steroidal medicines or have them in their composition. NSAIDs are particularly effective during the exacerbation of the disease. They help relieve pain and reduce swelling. The reception allows you to perform physical therapy exercises for osteoarthritis of the hip joint, go to massage, gymnastics and other physiotherapy procedures. The disadvantage of NSAIDs is their negative effect on the gastric mucosa. Patients need to understand that nonsteroidal hip osteoarthritis drugs do not cure the disease, they simply eliminate the symptoms, making therapy possible.
• Chondroprotector 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 a layer between the bones, allowing for less stress on the joint. Effective as a restorative therapy.
• Muscle relaxants- are vasodilator drugs and can relieve muscle spasm. Prescribed to reduce the load on the joint. Muscle relaxants can only be used as part of a complex drug therapy.
• Anesthetic ointment- despite advertisements about ointments as a miracle remedy to relieve the disease, they actually only eliminate the unpleasant symptoms of the disease. On the other hand, painkillers in the form of ointments improve the effectiveness of conservative treatment, allowing to relieve swelling and alleviate the patient's condition.
• Intra-articular injections- designed to relieve pain, restore cartilage or provide protection from excessive pressure on a joint. The most commonly used drugs are corticosteroids. Relieves pain by allowing the patient to initiate treatment with physical therapy. The group of corticosteroids may 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, during manipulations, lose the joint capsule).

Some medications can be harmful to the body. Self-medication is strictly forbidden!

The hip joint bandage relieves stress on the joint and reduces the factor, which is the main cause of tissue irritation leading to the inflammatory process. Therefore, along with drug therapy, fixation of the damaged area is often prescribed.

Alternative methods and physiotherapy

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

• Manual therapy: This procedure has a softer effect on damaged tissues than hip joint massage 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 accustomed, but in the West it is widespread and is one of the official therapeutic methods.
• Physical therapyfor deforming osteoarthritis is a large area in which the patient can choose between traditional and non-traditional methods. With hip osteoarthritis, Pilates, yoga, water exercises and other ways to restore the function of atrophied muscles are popular. Physical education and moderate effort, along with medication, have a beneficial effect and contribute to the recovery of the patient.
• Traditional medicine- most arthrologists are against this method as an independent therapy. And their opinion has a foundation. A large number of patients, having refused the help of traditional medicine, have earned a disability. But under the supervision of the attending physician, effective treatment of arthrosis 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 an arthrologist before taking them. It is recommended that unconventional alternative methods for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the hip joint be used 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 the cartilage.
• Homeopathy- helps normalize the synthesis of substances in the body. Homeopathy is particularly effective in post-traumatic arthrosis, allowing 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. Unsurprisingly, many warming and effective ointments contain transformed bee venom. Apitherapy is often more effective than hip block. The appropriateness of using apitherapy should be decided by the attending physician.
• Magnetotherapy- is used as an adjunct treatment and disease prevention. The effect of the magnet increases blood flow to the tissue, helps restore metabolic processes. Removes salt deposits.
• Hirudotherapy: Leech therapy has been used for several centuries. It has been shown that the saliva of leeches, which enters the bloodstream, contains a substance that promotes liquefaction. As a result, blood can even enter the atrophied capillaries and blood vessels.
• Mud therapy- has a slight warming effect, helps to obtain the necessary nutrients. 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 diseases.
• Shilajit for osteoarthritis- used both in pure form and as part of tinctures and tablets. The beneficial substances that make up Mumiyo promote tissue regeneration. Mumiyo is particularly effective in the early stages of the disease.
• Self massage- sharp and aggressive clapping and pressure are excluded. During the massage, it is necessary to ensure the flow of blood and lymph. An experienced chiropractor or massage therapist will show the types of movements and their direction.

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

Losing weight by only 5 kg will reduce the likelihood of an inflammatory process onset by about 30%.

Osteoarthritis in the hip joint and pregnancy

Pregnancy with osteoarthritis in the hip joint is a double stress for the woman's body. Most drugs are prohibited during pregnancy. At the very least, they must be taken with great care so as not to harm the baby.

If osteoarthritis of the hip during pregnancy is at an early stage, it is recommended that drug treatment be postponed until after delivery.

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

Even when planning the baby, it is necessary to undergo a full body examination. All drugs, ointments, painkillers can only be taken as directed by a doctor.

Consequences of osteoarthritis

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

1. Joint replacement- completely restores all motor functions. The disadvantage of this solution is the limited duration of the prosthesis. On average, after 15 years, a second operation will be required to replace it.
2. Laser therapy for operated arthrosisof the hip joint - is used in case of rejection of the joint 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 becomes disabled.

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