
Coxarthrosis or degenerative disease of the hip joint is one of the most serious pathologies of the musculoskeletal system.Due to the large size of the joint structures, the pain and the discomfort are much more serious than in the defeat of other joints.The consequences of the pathology are also severe - if the destruction of small bone joints causes very unpleasant sensations, then the arthrosis of the hip joint without treatment is a direct path to damage.Only the right therapy, and sometimes surgery, will help a person not lose the ability to walk.
What is the arthrosis of the hip joint?
Coxarthrosis, osteoarthrosis, arthrosis of the hip joint - synonyms of the same pathological process that take place in the thigh on one or two sides.In modern medicine, the pathology is also called osteoarthritis: it was earlier that degenerative processes were not characterized by inflammation, but more accurate studies show the opposite.The affected tissues of the articular cartilage secrete inflammatory elements (interleukins), so osteoarthritis is another true term.
The disease is characterized by the following signs:
- Constantly progressing, passing from one stage to another;
- Leads to constant pain, limiting the mobility of the joint;
- Causes deformity of bone surfaces, partial or complete destruction of hyaline cartilage;
- In a detailed stage, the elderly are more people, but often begins in 40 years;
- 70% of people over 75 have symptoms of pathology;
- They often suffer from women's disease.

The joint is a mechanism in which there are details for friction.Due to the reduction of the quality or quantity of lubrication (inter-discharge fluid), the contact surfaces wear out.Cartilage appears small cracks, later they are destroyed and instead of healthy tissue bone corn appears.Such growths do not allow the leg to move normally, its functions are lost.
The causes of the development of the disease
The arthrosis of the region of the right or left thighs can be primary or secondary, and the first option is characteristic of people of the elderly.The primary form disease has developed for decades, associated with wear and wear and wear and tear, and cartilage destruction.
Secondary coxarthrosis has other causes and can start even in a young man.It is associated with inflammation (infectious, autoimmune), which gives impetus to the onset of pathology.Also, the cause may be the injury to the thigh (bruise, dislocation, bone fracture).Other possible reasons for secondary form:
- Operations in this anatomical zone;
- Diabetes and other serious metabolic pathologies;
- Hormonal diseases;
- Congenital, acquired forms of curvature and bone displacement;
- Joint dysplasia in a child;
Protection of the rotating, necrosis of the hip;
- Vascular diseases of a systemic nature, which leads to a deterioration of cartilage nutrition;
- Bone tuberculosis, rheumatoid osteoarthritis;
- Gout, Pertle's disease;
- The tumors are benign, malignant.
The symptoms of arthrosis of the hip joint of any form will look faster if the risk factors act on the body:
- Constant stress, nervous shocks, depression and experiences;
- Obesity, even moderate excess weight;
- Adverse heredity;
- Hypodynamia, stuck work or certain professions with high joint load;
- Excessive physical (power) loads, professional sports.
Symptoms of the disease
Developing arthrosis of the hip joint and its symptoms cannot be noticed.Even at an early stage, the disease is also felt and the most pain.The pain, with the resulting and progressive arthrosis of the hip joint, increases as the disease passes from one stage to another.They appear in the thigh area, give it to the knee, in the groin, even at the lower abdomen.Usually, after sleep, the pain disappears, but at the advanced stage it can be present constantly.Palpation is not always felt because damage to the joint can start with deep parts.
Other possible signs of the disease:
- A crunch that occurs when moving, sometimes even with light;
- Frowning, changing the gait;
- Shortening of the legs on the side where there is arthrosis of the hip joint;
- Hamal station, limited rotation, moving leg.

As they develop, other signs of pathology appear.So, the feeling gives a sense of deformation of the bones, the presence of outgrowths.The doctor, in the examination, notes muscle atrophy, and the patient even in ordinary life is forced to move with a cane, a crutch to pain and weakness of the limb.
In general, pain and other clinical manifestations are highly dependent on the stage.Such stages of coxarthrosis are distinguished:
- First.The symptoms are not tanned, but the initial changes are already seen in diagnosis.The synovial fluid becomes larger, its volume decreases, the structure of the cartilage at the end of the stage changes.It seems small cracks that the body is trying to cure, forming small "calluses".
- The second.The pain at this stage is quite noticeable, the crunching, the restriction of the engine function is clear.Pain syndrome emits to other parts of the body, spreading the entire leg down.The picture is visible: the thinning of the cartilage, the narrowing of the distance between the bones, the violation of the structure of the joint surfaces, sometimes - the displacement of the head of the hollow bone.The number of bone growths (osteophytes) increases.
- The third.The pain becomes unbearable, the person is very limited on the move, very completely stop moving.The cartilage is almost completely destroyed, the atrophy muscles, the joint is very deformed.Bone osteophytes have the shape of spikes and irritate the nerve endings.
What are the risks and complications?
It is easy to understand - if with such pathology such as hip arthrosis, the symptoms and treatment are defined incorrectly, untimely, this threatens with disabilities.Painful pain syndrome, the inability to walk, the need for constant care is that what expects a person without treating this disease.
Disability in the event of damage to the thigh bones is established according to the severity of the disease, with a complete absence of the opportunity to work, give the first group.Such patients are shown surgery - this is the only effective method of treatment in such a situation.But even modern surgery methods can carry the risk of complications:
- Infectious infection;
- Thrombosis, thrombus embolism;
- Significant blood loss.
The total share of the complications is small-0.5-2%, but they are held.Most often there is a prosthesis infection, which should then be changed to a new one.Therefore, after surgery, it is important to have an antibiotic treatment course.
Diagnostic measures for arthrosis
Turning to the traumatologist, the surgeon, the orthopedist is recommended for help at the first signs of damage to the femur.Initially, with a suspicion of arthrosis of the hip joint, the doctor performs physical tests:
- Feels the upper thigh, reveals the points of pain, bone osteophytes;
- Performs passive movements of the foot - flexion, expansion, abduction and alignment of the volume of possible movements.

It will help to diagnose and prescribe the treatment of arthrosis of the hip joint more accurately, the instrumental diagnosis will help.Radiography is usually performed - the cheapest, affordable method of examination.It is recommended to make X -ray on modern devices or replace it on CT, where the quality of the photos is much more.CT provides comprehensive information about the condition of the bones, cartilage, joint surfaces.If a detailed study of the soft tissue condition is required (for example, when it pinches the root of the nerve), the specialist will prescribe MRI.
Other possible diagnostic measures:
- Ultrasound of the joint;
- Arthroscopy;
- Blood test for rheumatoid factor;
- Tuberculin samples;
- Biochemical analysis in case of suspicion of diabetes, gout.
It is very important to find the cause of secondary coxarthrosis, because without affecting the course of the disease, it will not work.
Treatment of arthrosis of the hip joint - medicines and physiotherapy
If the signs of the disease are implicit and it does not go to the stage of irreversible changes, conservative treatment will help the patient.Medicines will need therapy, even when hip arthrosis has acquired a severe form - as a component of the course of treatment.
How to treat hip arthrosis?There is a program for correction of the disease:
- No -gossip anti -inflammatory drugs.Pills or injections will help you get rid of pain, inflammation.It is impossible to use them uncontrollably - their own cartilage capabilities for regeneration will reduce, in addition, the stomach and intestines will suffer significantly from NSAIDs.
- Vascular medicines.Treatment with such drugs helps to improve cartilage nutrition and promote its recovery.
- Mussorelaxants.Indicated by spastic muscle pain caused by damage to the thigh area.
- Chondroprotectors.Hip arthrosis requires compulsory and multimeter administration of such drugs. It is also necessary to use for injection courses, including the cavity entering the joint.Even more effective technique is considered to be the introduction of hyaluronic acid drugs into the joint.
- Corticosteroids.They are used in extreme cases in the form of intravenous injections.Such treatment is necessary if the symptoms become unbearable.

External agents (ointments, gels) for coxarthrosis are usually ineffective due to deep joint release.But physiotherapy techniques are often used and give serious pain relief.UHF, laser therapy, magnetotherapy are done in the thigh area, UHF, massage is performed.Also, with osteoarthrosis, manual therapy is indicated, in some cases the hood of the joint.
Folk remedies for arthrosis
Many use the popular treatment of this pathology, although hip arthrosis does not respond well to various external methods.Only in severe pain can it be applied to a sore stain compresses with isolation, although it will be more distinctive.The treatment of complex and neglected hip arthrosis is done best with the help of oral application:
- Pour 100 g of dry grass from 500 ml of vodka, insist for 10 days in the dark, take 30 drops three times a day to relieve inflammation;
- Make jelly daily, in the absence of contraindications, they regularly cook cold men - the plates will not serve no longer than chondroprotectors.

You can soothe the pain by using such a compress.It is necessary to mix equally honey, medical bile, ammonia, glycerin, to apply to the joint, to bind with warm fabric.Leave the compress for 3 hours, then wash.
Other methods and operation
For the complete treatment of osteoarthrosis, it is very important to observe the right diet, you will need to refuse food that disrupts the blood supply and worsening of cartilage.These are smoked meats, vinegar, cross food, fried, as well as food with preservatives, trans fats.But there should be more dishes with magnesium, potassium, iodine, calcium in the diet.
How to treat arthrosis of the hip joint is a must therapeutic gymnastics.Daily warm -ups, special supine exercises should be performed by all patients.For example, you should slowly lift your legs up and stay on the floor for a few seconds.It is important to exclude sudden movements, to prevent prolonged and fast walking - with coxarthrosis, this will only increase the progression of the disease.You can use a cane, crutches, and an orthopedist can recommend special orthoses to soften the load to soften.
Treatment of arthrosis of the hip joint in the third, the last stage is performed only with the help of surgery, other methods are ineffective.In 95% of cases the surgery is successful, leg movements are completely restored.But prostheses are not eternal, their official life is up to 20 years, so surgery is an exceptional measure.In the course of endoprothetics, his own joints change in artificial, and arthrosis of the hip joint no longer threatens him.
Prevention of coxarthrosis
In order not to carry out complex treatment of the pathology, not to suffer from pain, it is important to start preventive measures from an early age.Prevention of coxarthrosis is especially important for those that are exposed to risk factors.
So the blood supply to the cartilage does not suffer, follows:
- Eat with the inclusion of vegetable foods in the menu, enough meat with low fat, cottage cheese, jelly, acidic foods;
- Stop smoking rather than abusing alcohol;
- When stuck, perform warm -ups regularly, do simple exercises;
- To abandon a sedentary lifestyle in favor of skiing, swimming, other low -intensity aerobic loads.
So a person does not bother hip arthrosis, you need to control body weight, prevent obesity and the appearance of even 5-10 extra pounds-this seriously improves the load in the hip area.Coxarthrosis can only be alerted with an integrated approach and a healthy lifestyle!