Osteoarthritis of the hip joint is a disease called coxarthrosis. The insidiousness of the disease is that it has an imperceptible course for a long time.
Symptoms may not alert the patient for more than two years, until they gradually worsen and force him to see a doctor.
The symptomatology is divided into 3 degrees, depending on its severity.
Symptoms of the disease
The main symptom is pain in the joints while walking. Being chronic, coxarthrosis sometimes gets worse and therefore the pain becomes more pronounced. Localization is often in the groin area, on the outer side of the thigh, on its front surface and echoes in the knee or buttocks. The pain causes a change in gait as the patient adjusts, trying to avoid the pain. This can lead (especially in advanced cases) to a shortening of the leg. Let's consider the symptoms of osteoarthritis in more detail.
Attention!The disease mainly affects women.
Osteoarthritis of the hip joint - grade 1
It is characterized by a mild and aching pain that occurs after significant physical exertion, mainly by running or walking for a long time. The pain disappears quickly after rest, without disturbing the dynamics of movements, therefore it does not cause alertness in the patient. Small bone changes are visible on the x-ray: a growth that does not go beyond the joint lip.
Osteoarthritis of the hip joint - grade 2
The pain becomes more intense, localized in the joint, radiating to the groin and thigh, also manifesting itself at rest. Joint work is impaired, long walking causes lameness. Abduction and internal rotation of the hip are limited, and the muscles that allow abduction and extension of the hip become weak.
Osteoarthritis of the hip joint - grade 3
The pains of coxarthrosis constantly bother the patient, manifesting themselves even at night. The muscles of the leg (thigh, lower leg) and buttocks atrophy, their volume decreases, and a cane is needed to walk. This leads to a shortening of the limb, the patient is forced to stand, leaning forward. At grade 3 of the disease, painful sensations are often stronger in the knee than in the groin or thigh, so the doctor may be making a mistake with the diagnosis.
Causes of the disease
There are many reasons for coxarthrosis. Let's consider the main ones:
- Excessive stress on the joint, its injuries, which occur mainly in athletes.
- Hereditary diseases. These include congenital hip dislocation, hip dysplasia, and others.
- Hereditary predisposition. Despite the fact that coxarthrosis is not transmitted genetically, a child can inherit from relatives a weak skeleton or structural features of cartilage tissue.
- Arthritis, even if treated, can cause osteoarthritis of the hip joint.
- Chronic stress and long-term experiences, scientists say, have an extremely negative effect on joint health.
- Infarction (aseptic necrosis) of the hip joint leads to circulatory disturbances.
- Hormonal changes, diabetes mellitus, numbness of the lower limbs in nerve diseases.
Important!Significantly increases the risk of developing obesity. In 5-10% of cases, it is this that leads to the development of the disease.
Treatment with folk remedies
Api
Apiproducts have established themselves as an effective treatment for many internal diseases. Not surprisingly, bees can also help with deformation of the joints: bee venom has an anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect, normalizes the mobility of diseased joints, relieves swelling and prevents deterioration. Bee sting is mainly used, which is prescribed only by a specialist. Therapy begins with a bite, but the result is usually visible after the first procedure. The poison acts on the site of inflammation and helps the body fight the infection on its own. In addition, it will help cope with other problems of the body: eliminate infections, restore the functioning of the nervous system and stop the aging of the body.
Treatment with sludge
Mud packs provide positive results as a complementary therapy. The efficiency of the heated mud is higher, so it is recommended to heat it up to 40 degrees before use. Apply a mud cake (clay diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 7) to the damaged joint and fix it with foil, oilcloth and warm it on top with a towel. The duration of the procedure is 30 minutes. Rinse it with warm water and let it sit for half an hour. Perform the compresses at least once a day for a month.
The following types of dirt are used:
- silt;
- peat;
- sapropel.
Gelatin treatment
Gelatin is a natural substance used by mankind for centuries. Its main advantage is that it is not only useful, but also completely safe.
Attention!Gelatin helps to improve the condition of the hair, eliminating dryness and hair loss, as well as increasing the functionality of the whole body. To treat your hair, it is enough to dilute the powder with cold water and, letting it ferment, dilute it in equal proportions with shampoo.
What are the benefits of gelatin for the joints? It contains amino acids that add elasticity to the joints and slow (or completely stop) their destructive changes. In terms of its chemical composition, gelatin is collagen and is nearly 90% protein, and protein food is especially helpful for joint problems.
Patients taking gelatin report a decrease in the pathological process and in the intensity of joint pain, which allows them to move more freely. Of course, it cannot be considered the main type of treatment, but in combination with other measures it is very effective.
How to prepare the jelly:
- Pour a teaspoon of powder with half a glass of cold water (pre-boiled).
- Leave it to infuse: it should swell.
- In the morning, add hot water to a cup and add a teaspoon of honey for extra sweetness and effect.
- After mixing, take the hot gelatin in the morning on an empty stomach.
- Course: 10 days of treatment / 10 days off for 3 months.
Healing the leech
Hirudotherapy (or treatment with leeches) gives positive results in the initial stages of the disease - I and II. The advantage of a leech bite is that its saliva contains enzymes, the action of which corresponds to the effect of drugs injected into the periarticular region. Additionally, leeches improve blood flow to the damaged joint area.
In stage III of coxarthrosis, the use of leeches eliminates nocturnal joint pain and pain at rest. In the postoperative period, the recovery of damaged muscles and joints is accelerated.
The procedures are carried out with an interval of 2-6 days, the course includes 6-8 sessions. During the session 4 to 8 medicinal leeches are used. Already after 4 sessions a noticeable improvement is observed, but the maximum effect is obtained about 2 weeks after the end of the hirudotherapy cycle.
Herbs
Recipes of traditional medicine are often the only way to get rid of a difficult disease. Herbs are applied both locally and internally. Some of them also help with grade III coxarthrosis.
Recipe n. 1:
- You will need lemon (3 pieces), celery (250g), garlic (120g).
- After grinding, put the ingredients in a 3-liter jar, cover with boiling water and heat with a blanket, leaving overnight.
- Take this medicine in the morning, 70 g per day, half an hour before meals, for three months. Banks are often enough for 1 month.
Stir and drink one glass a day for a month.
Attention!Before consuming lemon, make sure that the stomach acid is not too acidic: citrus fruits increase it.
Recipe n. 2. Take 3 lemons, chop them finely together with the peel, pour boiling water (three liters) and let cool completely, then dissolve 3 tablespoons. L. linden honey.
Hint!If your tendons and muscles are pulling, you can make celandine oil. Take 8 tbsp. L. flowers and stems of the plant, chop them and cover them with 1 liter of olive oil. Let the oil sit in a warm place for 2 weeks. When it is brewing, strain it and rub it on the painful areas, isolating them with a warm cloth.
Lapping for joint pain
Take the same proportions of iodine, glycerin, alcohol and flower honey. After 2-3 hours, the drug will be ready. You have to use it by applying it to a cotton ball and rubbing it thoroughly into the skin in the sore joint area. It is necessary to lubricate the skin from the bottom up, along the flow of lymph and blood. The effectiveness of lapping will be greater if the tissues surrounding the area of inflammation are further lubricated: this will improve blood circulation and make the disease regress.
Cabbage
The cabbage compress reduces pain in the injured joint. You will need a head of cabbage, from which you will need to separate several large, fresh leaves before going to bed. Lubricate the area of inflammation with flower honey and attach the cabbage, then secure it with a plastic bag and warm it with a towel or handkerchief. In the morning, wash off the remaining honey and repeat the procedure. You need to walk with a compress until the evening. Repeat the procedure for a month.
Mint
Peppermint ointment for joint pain.
Chop 50 g of mint and eucalyptus leaves with a knife, then add 50 ml of aloe juice.
Mix the ingredients and lubricate aching joints 3 times a day.
Treatment without surgery
Sometimes patients go to the doctor with an extremely advanced stage of coxarthrosis. In this case, it is almost impossible to help them without surgery. However, medical practice shows that regular therapeutic exercises and the appointment of certain drugs can not only reduce the manifestations of the disease, but also almost completely eliminate them.
Treatment in this case is purely individual and consists, in addition to gymnastics, in the intake of drugs that strengthen the bones. If the joint can still be saved, it makes sense to prescribe drugs to restore the cartilage.
There are a number of alternative methods that help with coxarthrosis:
- Manual therapy.
- Applied kinesology (movement therapy).
- Pulling the hardware joint.
- Non-implement joint traction (post-isometric relaxation).
Preparations
The following drug groups help with this diagnosis.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Despite the fact that they do not cure the disease itself, these drugs can effectively eliminate pain and reduce severe inflammation. Their constant intake is not recommended due to the harmful effects on the body.
Chondroprotectors, unlike NVPs, not only relieve symptoms, but also affect the basis of the disease. They restore the structure of cartilage, improve the production of joint fluid. However, they don't work right away - it will take at least 2-3 courses to get positive results.
Attention! Chondroprotectors can help only in the early stages of the disease.
Muscle relaxants (muscle relaxants) are useful for relieving spasms in the muscles surrounding the inflamed tissue. They are effective in combination with joint traction and chondroprotectors, because if you do not start to restore the joint itself, relieving the spasm can lead to its accelerated destruction.
Hint!The doctor says that muscle oxidants rarely help to significantly improve the patient's condition, because their appointment is far from justified.
Vasodilators. They increase blood circulation in the joint, which contributes to its faster recovery and also reduces pain, relieves vasospasm and improves joint nutrition. To begin with, the tablets are taken one at a time, but after a few days, if there are no side effects, they switch to the course of administration recommended by the doctor.
Injections
The injections are injected directly into the joint or periarticular tissue. However, most often the injection is not done in the lumen of the damaged joint, but in the periarticular tissue, since there is a high risk of missing, damaging the nerve endings.
- Corticosteroid hormones are given to relieve pain.
- The introduction of chondroprotectors through the thigh is very useful (2-3 courses are carried out per year).
- Hyaluronic acid, an artificial lubrication of the joints, must be injected into the joint lumen, which is very difficult to enter, so the treatment gives only 30% positive effect.
Ointments
Not so many ointments are effective, they do not always reach the joint - the rubbing process in the ointment itself often gives a positive effect, replacing a light massage. It is necessary to rub the ointment with clean hands for 15 minutes. circular and spiral movements from the bottom up until a sensation of heat appears.
The composition of ointments is different - they can be vegetable raw materials, bee and snake venom, an extract of the cartilage tissue of cattle. Ointments with honey or mustard and other warming components in the composition will be good. You can even prepare such funds yourself. Ointments also have an analgesic effect.
Exercises
Therapeutic gymnastics is very effective in the initial stages of the disease and is sometimes effective even in advanced cases. The main purpose of the exercise is to develop the affected joint and strengthen the nearby muscles. If discomfort appears in the hip area after gymnastics, massage should be performed to minimize discomfort.
Important!During gymnastics, do not load the joint - exclude its axial load, as it may worsen the condition. Also, try not to make sudden, deep movements.
There is a whole range of exercises that are important to do regularly - in this case, the result will be really noticeable.
Here are some exercises.
- I. p. - standing. Grab the support with both hands and slowly do a half squat 10 times.
- I. p. - standing. Transfer your body weight to the sound leg and support yourself with your hand on the same side (table or back of a chair). Slowly rock back and forth with your sore leg.
- I. p. - lying on the stomach. Put your hands on your hips and alternately lift your straight legs.
- I. p. - stand firmly on both legs and lean on the support with both hands. Stand on your toes and lower your heels to the floor. Run - 10 times.
The set of exercises consists of three sets and is performed slowly but surely for an hour. It is imperative to do the exercises correctly.
Diet
Proper nutrition is one of the keys to success in any disease, including osteoarthritis. Here are some products that will help restore cartilage tissue and do not cause weight gain:
- low-fat milk and fermented milk products;
- lean meat and fish;
- buckwheat;
- beans, lentils.
- Fats are essential for normal metabolism. Give preference to unrefined vegetable oils and butter, fish or shark oil.
- Carbohydrates fill the body with energy. It is better to eat complex carbohydrates (vegetables, fruits) than simple ones, which include sugar and other sweets.
- Minerals and vitamins are found in foods such as baked potatoes, bananas, nuts, eggs, chicken, wholemeal bread.
Doctors recommend consuming no more than 1 teaspoon of salt per day, giving up preservatives, smoked meats and other unhealthy foods high in fat.
Hint!Water is life. For coxarthrosis, drink plenty of water - up to two liters per day.
Prevention
Prevention consists of an active lifestyle, proper nutrition, avoiding excessive stress on the joints (often abused by athletes). Be healthy!