Arthritis of the hip joint is an inflammation of the articular tissues that occurs as a response of the body to the penetration of viruses and bacteria into them. Unlike degenerative pathologies, inflammation occurs in the membrane lining the joint cavity. Only in the later stages does this process extend to bones and articular cartilage.
As a rule, the disease occurs at a young age, approximately 15-40 years. The first signs of defeat can be observed even in school years.
Types and types of disease
In connection with the cause, the following types of arthritis of the hip joint are distinguished:
- traumatic;
- dystrophic;
- infectious;
- rheumatoid;
- tuberculous;
- transient.
In addition, the deforming form of the disease is different, as well as the pathology of secondary origin. It is worth noting that there is no single classification of arthritis of the hip joint, however, doctors distinguish 3 main types of pathology with which theyencountered most frequently. Let's list them:
- reactive;
- rheumatoid;
- purulent.
Reactive arthritis of the hip joint is a lesion of the articular surface that develops after a previous inflammation, initially localized outside of it. This disease can be triggered by various pathogens, but it has the same symptoms.
Rheumatoid arthritis of the hip joint is quite rare in children and adults. This is due to the fact that this type of disease often affects small articular surfaces. The rheumatoid type is provoked by ongoing autoimmune processes that are triggered after contact with infections of any origin.
The purulent type is accompanied not only by inflammation of the joint, but also by the release of pus. The pathological process occurs when bacteria and fungi enter the joint cavity. This is not always an independent pathology, since it can act as a concomitant disease in rheumatism, hepatitis, lupus. Quite often, a similar problem is observed in children.
Stages of defeat
There are different degrees of arthritis of the hip joint, which are classified according to the level of functional impairment. At the first stage of the course of the disease, the functions are preserved, at the second stage they are somewhat impaired, and at the third stage they are completely lost. In addition, the violation is also subdivided according to the duration of the course. There are the following types:
- spicy;
- subacute;
- chronic;
- recurrent.
Depending on the degree of the disease and the characteristics of the course of inflammation, doctors select the most effective method of therapy.
Causes of occurrence
The causes of arthritis of the hip joint can be very different, it all depends on what exactly provoked the pathological condition. Reactive types of the disease are usually associated with various infectious processes provoked by the intestinal microflora and many other pathogens.
At the same time, microbes are not detected in the joint cavity and synovial membrane. This form is rare in adults. Inflammatory arthritis includes lesions associated with allergies, metabolic disorders, cancer, aggression of one's own immunity, and hereditary factors. Among the most common causes of arthritis and arthrosis of the hip joint are the following:
- metabolic disorder;
- autoimmune disorders;
- excessive stress on the joint;
- presence of concomitant lesions;
- complication of infectious and viral diseases.
Among the causes of periarthritis, frequent microtrauma of the tendons can be distinguished. This is due to the profession of a person or sports loads. Endocrine and vascular disorders can contribute to the development of the pathological process.
Main symptoms
Symptoms of hip arthritis are characterized by inflammationinside the joint cavity, that is, they provoke pain in the affected area. Physically, you can feel the following manifestations:
- pain;
- feeling of stiffness in the affected area;
- swelling and skin lesions;
- limited joint mobility.
Despite the variety of symptoms, the pain that occurs in the groin provokes the greatest discomfort. Inflammation may also be accompanied by fever, fever and migraine.
Rheumatoid arthritis causes pain, tightness, and swelling in the affected area. The joints are equally affected, and sometimes diseases of the internal organs occur against this background. With purulent arthritis, there is increased sweating, constant pain, fever, swelling and redness of the skin.
Gouty type of disease is characterized by the occurrence of sharp pain that lasts for a long time. In addition, there is fever and swelling. In psoriatic arthritis, an asymmetric lesion is observed. The skin around the inflamed joint becomes bluish. In addition, doctors can also diagnose diseases of the spine.
When the first symptoms of arthritis of the hip joint appear, you need to seek medical help. With severe pain and fever, you need to take anti-inflammatory drugs. In addition, it is necessary to ensure the immobility of the affected limb.
Diagnostics
Symptoms and treatment of hip arthritisjoints largely depend on the form of the course of the disease, which is determined during the diagnosis. To choose the most adequate method of therapy, it is necessary to know the reason for the inflammation. To do this, the doctor specifies the intensity of pain, their localization. He also asks if the patient had infectious diseases, joint injuries.
After that, the joint is examined. It is important to assess the articular surface not only in a static position, but also during movement. This will help clarify how limited movement is, how much function is affected, and whether deformity is present.
Visual research methods play a decisive role in the diagnosis. For this, tomography, radiography, and ultrasound are used. If you need to determine how much and in what form the inflammatory process proceeds, then you will have to perform a puncture of the joint. It will help determine the type of pathogen and select antibiotics for therapy.
Feature of treatment
Only a doctor decides how to treat arthritis of the hip joint, based on information about the form of the disease and the characteristics of its course. During therapy, the patient is prescribed a whole range of measures, including surgical and orthopedic techniques, medications, folk remedies, as well as sanitary and spa treatment.
Initially, you need to eliminate the pain and only after that proceed to the restoration of the affected joint. The basis of drug therapy is the use of anti-inflammatorydrugs along with intra-articular injections of glucocorticoids. However, they can only be administered in case of acute pain in the affected area and under the supervision of a specialist.
The surgical method is a hip replacement. It is used in the most severe forms of damage, when conservative methods do not bring the desired result. After the acute period subsides, therapeutic exercises and massage are used. Alternative methods also show good results, but it is advisable to use them in combination with other means.
Drug therapy
Treatment of arthrosis and arthritis of the hip joint must be carried out comprehensively, since this is the only way to achieve a good result. Drug therapy plays a big role, which includes:
- anti-inflammatory drugs;
- muscle relaxants;
- antibiotics;
- analgesics;
- vitamin complexes.
Anti-inflammatory drugs help to quickly and effectively eliminate inflammation, reduce swelling, reduce vascular permeability and normalize the patient's well-being. In particular, the doctor may prescribe drugs such as Ibuprofen, Indomethacin, Ketoprofen, Diclofenac. It is worth remembering that prolonged use of these drugs can adversely affect the condition of the stomach and intestines, so you must strictly follow the doctor's instructions.
Local painkillers have proven themselves well: ointments,gels, creams. These drugs include Apizatron, Fastum Gel, Voltaren Emulgel. Among their main advantages, one can single out the fact that these are external products. However, the joint is located far from the skin, so the effect of such ointments and creams is usually negligible.
Muscle relaxants help to relax the muscles, as muscle contractions lead to an aggravation of the course of arthritis when the joint is affected. Among the most popular drugs in this group are Sirdalud, Baclofen, Mydocalm. It is worth noting that these drugs have certain contraindications.
Vitamin complexes will help normalize the condition of bone tissue. In particular, they prescribe drugs such as Teravit, Calcemin, Vitrum Calcium. In infectious arthritis of the hip joint, treatment involves the use of antibacterial drugs. Only the attending physician should prescribe them.
Use of folk remedies
Treatment of arthritis of the hip joint with folk remedies involves the use of various methods and techniques. Among the most effective are:
- healing baths;
- decoctions and infusions of herbs;
- compresses;
- ointments.
You can take a bath with the addition of a decoction of bran, birch leaves, sea s alt. In addition, pine baths show good results. You need to take them for a month.
At home, you can prepare healing ointments that need to be applied to the affected area of the joints until completely eliminatedpainful sensations. You can prepare a healing agent if you mix 100 g of mustard, paraffin and 200 g of s alt until a homogeneous mixture is obtained. Then it must be applied to the affected joints and left until the product dries completely. A decoction made from nettle leaves, elder flowers, willow bark and parsley root helps well. You can take it instead of tea. You can also insist horse chestnut flowers on alcohol. Take the finished product should be 1 tbsp. l.
To apply a compress, dilute Dimexide with water in a ratio of 1:4, and then apply to the affected area.
Surgery
Surgical treatment of arthritis of the hip joint is carried out only in case of deformation and necrosis of the bones. In this case, such methods of restoring the affected joint are used, such as:
- endoprosthetics;
- arthroscopic synovectomy;
- cartilage transplant;
- implantation into the joint.
The treatment of arthritis is a long and very complex process that cannot be carried out without the qualified help of a doctor.
Massage and physiotherapy
At the initial stage of the course of arthrosis, the therapy complex must necessarily include therapeutic exercises, which will help strengthen muscles, normalize blood circulation, and also increase joint mobility. However, you should not carry out a complex of therapeutic exercises too intensively, since excessive loads can quickly destroy thinned cartilage tissue. ATthis can result in severe pain. You can do exercises that simulate cycling while lying on your back. In addition, it is desirable to include swimming, cycling, skiing, cycling in the complex.
At the initial stages of the lesion, doctors recommend that physiotherapeutic procedures be included in the treatment complex. They will help eliminate inflammation, reduce pain, and increase blood circulation. These procedures include:
- laser therapy;
- magnetotherapy;
- electrophoresis;
- shock wave therapy.
Massage helps a lot in the treatment of arthrosis. In particular, you can massage the inside of the thigh, legs, lower back, buttocks. With the help of such manipulations, blood circulation can be increased, which contributes to better penetration of nutrients to the affected area. In addition, muscle tone is significantly increased, pain is reduced and spasms are eliminated.
The course of the disease in childhood
Arthritis of the hip joint in a child is diagnosed much more often than in an adult, as children are more prone to inflammatory processes of cartilage tissue. The disease is quite acute with severe symptoms of general and local inflammation.
The purulent form of arthritis is especially dangerous for young children. With untimely diagnosis and treatment, it can lead to the death of the child. At the very beginning of the course of inflammation, there may be no symptoms, and the first signsappear only with significant physical exertion. A urological, intestinal or genital infection can provoke the development of the disease. A prerequisite for its occurrence is the suppression of the immune system. As a rule, boys suffer from this disease.
At the very beginning of the course of inflammation, swelling of the legs and knees is observed. Unlike adults, children tolerate the disease quite easily and are not bothered by painful sensations. Reactive arthritis may present with fever, fever, and chills. Sometimes there is soreness in the hips and lower back.
Treatment is carried out in a hospital with the help of medications, immunomodulators and immunostimulants. Be sure to follow the diet. It is necessary to exclude eggplant, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers from the diet. It is useful to eat dairy products, poultry, fish, berries, fruits and garlic.
It is very important to carry out timely treatment, as this disease can provoke a significant deterioration in well-being. With a complication, infectious-toxic shock may develop. In addition, the spread of infection throughout the body is not ruled out.
Prophylaxis
Any disease is much easier to prevent than to treat later for a long time. It is very important to follow certain preventive measures, which include:
- proper nutrition;
- light exercise;
- observance of the daily routine;
- wearing comfortable shoes.
ExceptIn addition, it is very important to prevent hypothermia, as it negatively affects the condition of the joints. All this will help prevent the development of arthritis, and, if it occurs, alleviate the course of inflammation.
