Treatment of osteoarthritis of the hip joint.

Coxarthrosis is a deforming osteoarthritis of the hip joint.This is a chronic disease characterized by degenerative changes in tissues, cartilage damage. Symptomatically, coxarthrosis is determined by regular pain and deformity in the hip joint, reduced mobility. Pathological changes are based on cartilage damage and subsequent inflammatory reaction. With osteoarthritis, the bone tissue is modified. The injury occurs locally, but other joint joints may also be affected. The main contingent of the sick are the elderly. A risk factor can be a hereditary predisposition, a large body weight and trauma. Endocrine disorders and metabolic imbalances are found in people with this problem. But the main emphasis in treatment is placed on restoring the structure and function of the cartilage. Treatment of coxarthrosis is a long-term process, which includes anti-inflammatory therapy, the use of chondroitin and glucosamine preparations to replenish the nutrition of the joints, exercise therapy and physical therapy. Herbal treatment is recommended to maintain the joints at home. A proper diet and moderate exercise are essential.

Symptoms of coxarthrosis.

With coxarthrosis, the articular cartilage is mainly subject to deforming changes. There are 3 stages of the development of the disease. In the initial stage, there are no morphological changes in the tissues of the joint. Only its functional viability suffers. A person feels periodic pain in the joint area after physical exertion, running, walking long distances. After rest, the pain syndrome disappears. In the second stage, the bone begins to deform. The naturalness of the movements is drastically reduced. The pain is intense and usually appears at rest. The third stage is characterized by chronic pain syndrome. Pain bothers patients day and night. Walking without a cane is difficult, the person is forced to lean the body forward. Multiple growths appear on the joint bones.

The main symptoms of osteoarthritis include:

• morning stiffness;
• joint pain;
• Difficulty moving over a distance of more than 1 km;
• increased pain when sitting or standing for a long time.

Podiatrists call coxarthrosis one of the most common types of osteoarthritis. The risk group includes people with obesity, heavy physical work, elderly people. Lack of treatment leads to complete destruction of the hip joint, accompanied by unnatural mobility or complete immobility, as well as severe dysfunctions of the lower extremities.

Drug therapy

Treatment of coxarthrosis begins with limitation of exercise. This is a long-term process that combines a variety of therapy methods: taking anti-inflammatory and pain reliever medications, intra-articular injections, physical therapy, and exercise therapy.

Features of the treatment of coxarthrosis 1, 2, 3 degrees:

• in the first stage, NSAIDs are prescribed to stop the inflammatory process, drugs that normalize metabolic processes, painkillers are also needed, folk remedies are used in complex therapies;
• in the second stage of coxarthrosis, intra-articular injections based on hyaluronic acid are added to drug therapy, laser treatments and electrical stimulation are performed;
• the third stage is treated conservatively and operatively, when it is impossible to cope without an operation, joint prostheses are performed.

Medication plays the most important role. Without supportive and anti-inflammatory agents, dystrophic changes cannot be avoided and constant pain cannot be eliminated. Doctors prescribe pharmacological agents of various actions to alleviate the condition of patients during exacerbations.

• Medication plays the most important role. Without supportive and anti-inflammatory agents, dystrophic changes cannot be avoided and constant pain cannot be eliminated. Doctors prescribe pharmacological agents of various actions to alleviate the condition of patients during exacerbations.
• Muscle relaxants. Reduce skeletal muscle tone. The muscles relax, so the pain syndrome subsides, the person rests from pain. These drugs are contraindicated in patients with cardiac arrhythmias.
• Chondroprotectors. Symptomatic preparations containing collagen. They nourish and restore damaged cartilage. They provide external collagen to the joint and stimulate its production by the body. Chondroprotective drugs are drunk for a long time. Under the influence of these funds, the metabolism in the tissues improves, the destroyed cartilage gradually grows. In complex therapy, these drugs are of undoubted benefit, especially in the initial stage of the disease. In chronic osteoarthritis, they postpone disability.

To stop the destruction of cartilage tissue and provide "lubrication" to the joint, injections are made with preparations based on hyaluronic acid and synthetic substances, which are similar in composition to synovial fluid. They are highly compatible with the tissues of the human body. They effectively stop the process of destruction of cartilage, have analgesic and chondroprotective effects. Synthetic substances contain silver ions, which give an additional bacteriostatic effect.

Prosthesis

The endoprosthesis is a surgical method to treat the hip joint. When, as a consequence of coxarthrosis and dysplasia, irreversible consequences occur in the cartilage tissues, joint replacement is used. As a result of the operation, it is possible not only to reduce the constant pain syndrome, but also to restore the function and mobility of the joint. The artificial joints are made of metal-polyethylene and ceramic. Fixation to living bone occurs cemented and uncemented. Stents take hold well and can serve for decades. But in some cases, the prosthesis wears out quickly, then a second operation is required.

Physiotherapy treatment

Treatment of osteoarthritis of the hip joint is carried out with complex measures, including with the help of physiotherapy. This direction is associated with physical rehabilitation, support of the body during the period of recovery and remission, prevention of exacerbations. Physiotherapy is practiced by orthopedists, traumatologists, rheumatologists, massage therapists, exercise therapy instructors.

The following methods are recognized as effective for the treatment of coxarthrosis:

• ultrasound therapy;
• laser therapy;
• inductothermia;
• massage;
• manual therapy.

With ultrasound therapy, the high-frequency waves penetrate the tissues and act as a vibratory massage. They improve biochemical processes, prevent stagnation, promote better absorption of medicinal substances. Ultrasound reduces inflammation.

Laser treatment expands blood vessels, stimulates lymphatic flow, inhibits inflammation, and heals tissues. The technique improves the trophism of the tissues, helps to preserve the structure and functions of the organs.

During inductothermia, high-frequency waves affect the body. The method is effective in the presence of any inflammation and pathology of the musculoskeletal system. It stimulates the immune system, relieves pain and has a regenerative effect.

Massage is hardware and mechanical. Contrary to popular belief, during massage, not only the surface layer of the skin and muscles are exposed. During the work of the masseur, the reflex and humoral mechanisms of regulation of the internal organs are activated. Combining a wide variety of massage techniques, the patient receives antispasmodic, tonic, lymphatic drainage and analgesic effects.

A chiropractor works on a person's bones and joints. Relieves tension in some areas, tones others, eliminates pain, restores the functional viability of the joints. First, the doctor applies diagnostic techniques, during which he determines the condition and capabilities of the muscles, ligaments and joints. Then move on to treatment. Manual techniques are not used during exacerbations and complications.

The role of spa treatment

Treatment in sanatoriums is of great importance for coxarthrosis. Treatment and prophylaxis institutions to help people with diseases of the musculoskeletal system mainly use natural factors.

• Climatotherapy. These are the characteristics of the terrain, a combination of climatic factors, sea water, sun, air. Climate therapy helps recovery, prevents the development of exacerbations, improves the course of biological and physiological processes in the body. The ideal conditions for the treatment of osteoarthritis are created in areas with high air temperatures and a lot of solar radiation.
• Healing mud. They differ in origin. They are peat, sulfur-silt, sapropel, hydrothermal. They are characterized by a high heat capacity. They contain mineral, organic and biologically active components that penetrate the skin and have a beneficial effect on the joints. They improve metabolic processes, reduce inflammation and normalize blood circulation.
• Mineral water. Contains trace elements, dissolved salts, biologically active substances. For diseases of the musculoskeletal system, the intake of mineral baths is indicated. The procedures increase mobility, tone, activate blood circulation, improve metabolism.
• Phytotherapy. A method based on the use of medicinal herbs. Infusions, decoctions contain a large number of active substances that not only effectively support the sick body, but also have a pronounced therapeutic effect.

Treatment with natural factors in sanatoriums is combined with methods of physiotherapy, exercise therapy, dietary nutrition, adherence to the daily regimen. Spa programs are developed for all stages of joint diseases.

Physical activity

In the recommendations for people with arthrosis, doctors advise limiting the load on the legs. It is worth giving up squatting, squatting and doing physical work more carefully at home and in the garden. Do not force the joint if you already feel pain (reduce cardinal load). Especially it is worth excluding running, jumping. However, you can not do without gymnastics.

In order for the joint to work, special exercises must be performed. A person with osteoarthritis is categorically not suitable for "youth" gymnastics, at a rapid pace, with increasing loads, with a high intensity of the entire session. With a sore joint, gymnastics should be performed extremely slowly, gently, and measured, until discomfort or pain appears. If there is pain, it is worth taking a break.

Therapeutic gymnastics allows you to normalize the condition of the muscles, improve blood circulation in the joint, provide you with proper nutrition, and remove the products of caries and inflammation. Gymnastics helps drugs quickly enter a sore joint and begin a therapeutic effect. The most difficult task of physical therapy exercises is to correctly dose the load. Too short a workout will not achieve the healing effect. And excessive load will bring additional damage to the joint. Only the attending physician can give competent recommendations. They will depend on the patient's condition and the characteristics of the course of the disease in each case.

Nutrition for coxarthrosis

There are many reasons for cartilage destruction. Nutrition is of great importance in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the hip joint of 1, 2, 3 degrees. Today, the market is full of foods rich in preservatives. Attractive hams, smoked meats, sausages, boasting on the shelves, contain a large number of specific components. The meat is treated with enzymes, active substances that speed up the production process and quickly obtain an attractive product. Preservatives increase the shelf life of any product, whether ready or raw, which cannot fail to be widely used among manufacturers.

By eating foods filled with preservatives, a person gets too much salt, which locks in moisture. Salt is retained and accumulates in cartilage tissue and joints malfunction. Such osteoarthritis is inherently simple inflammation that lends itself well to therapy. And coxarthrosis, which has arisen against the background of metabolic disorders, metabolic failure, junk food intake, requires adherence to a diet. You don't need to strictly limit yourself in food intake or give up a whole list of healthy foods. Just follow a few simple rules:

• refuse prepared smoked meats from the store;
• exclude the consumption of concentrated broths;
• depending on the cooking method, give preference to cooking and stewing;
• completely exclude the consumption of salt, do not buy salted fish, sausages, canned food;
• do not consume more than 10-15 g of animal fats per day, prepare meals with the addition of various vegetable oils;
• control the caloric content of food, give up so-called "fast" carbohydrates, sugar, confectionery;
• exclude mayonnaise from the diet, season salads and sauces with low-fat sour cream;
• exclude the consumption of alcoholic beverages;
• limit the consumption of fatty fish, caviar.

Instead of smoked meats, buy natural meat, chickens raised on farms by domestic producers. It is better to cook the first dishes in vegetable broths, without boiling vitamin-rich foods for several hours. The bouillon cubes that are popular today are almost 100% chemical. This is harm in its purest form.

you should not completely abandon boiled meat. But it is better to take precooked lean pieces and put them in portions on a plate, and only then pour the vegetable soup. A total rejection of meat is extreme.

An old recipe for preserving bone and joint strength is jellied meat. A few decades ago, when little was known about artificial preservatives, this was justified. Now such a product can only increase cholesterol.

Fresh fish has not been treated with preservatives before. But modern manufacturers have also learned this. Today, we can only talk about the benefits of fish if it came to the counter directly from a trawler or was bought alive.

Only by changing the principles of nutrition, a person can reduce the suffering of deforming arthrosis. The diet should include a large number of fresh vegetables, berries, herbs, fruits. Low-fat dairy products, lean meats, and chicken are helpful. Rice, beets, potatoes and watermelon help eliminate salt from the body. Once a week, it is recommended to organize fasting days with kefir, cottage cheese, fruits, decoctions of herbs.