Osteoporosis of the hip in women and men reduces bone strength. By the way, representatives of the weaker sex during menopause most often suffer from this disease. Therefore, the symptoms and treatment of osteoporosis of the hip joint should be known first of all to all women. Often, pathology leads to fractures. There may also be other signs of calcium deficiency in the body.
What is this disease
The symptoms and treatment of osteoporosis of the hip have been known for a long time. The disease is a pathological change in bone tissue. A similar violation occurs with a deficiency of calcium and phosphorus. As a result, the strength of bone tissue decreases, and the risk of bruises and fractures increases. It becomes dangerous for the patient to lift weights, as well as falling even from a small height.
This disease has other names: "glass" or diffuse osteoporosis. Often the disease occurs in one place and gradually spreads to other parts of the body.
The hip joint takes on both static and dynamic loads, and therefore, in osteoporosis, it is this section of the musculoskeletal system that most often undergoes various injuries. Thus, a fracture of the neck of the hip joint leads to almost complete immobilization, and in the elderly, to death.
Why disease occurs
Often, elements that increase their strength are washed out of bone tissue due to a breakdown in some metabolic processes. As a result, the content of mineral s alts in the body decreases. Among the reasons for the development of osteoporosis of the hip joint, it is worth highlighting:
- disorders in the hormonal system;
- vitamin D deficiency, which occurs when there is a lack of sunlight in the autumn-winter period;
- an age factor at which parathyroid dysfunction begins to progress, as well as a violation of the body's metabolic processes;
- malnutrition leading to calcium and phosphorus deficiencies;
- Estrogen secretion decreases during menopause;
- bad habits: abuse of alcohol, drugs, and smoking;
- heredity, predisposition to disease;
- congenital pathologies, including shortening of one of the limbs, scoliosis, dysplasia in children, etc.;
- surgical intervention associated with the removal of one or more internal organs;
- use of drugs that can deplete calcium and minerals, such as anticonvulsants, corticosteroids and diuretics.
Some statistics
If we consider the statistics of the disease in more detail, we can note that:
- in 45% such a disease as osteoporosis affects the hip joint and femur;
- in 90% of cases, the violation of the integrity of the neck of the hip joint occurs due to developing osteoporosis;
- about 8% of all cases after a neck fracture, patients return to normal life activities;
- after violation of the integrity of the neck of the hip joint in about 75% of all cases, a person becomes disabled, and about 20% of patients die due to injury.
Osteoporosis ranks fourth on the list of the most dangerous diseases. And the patient's death can occur as a result of injury or fracture of the neck of the hip joint. The disease is second only to diabetes mellitus, oncological ailments and disorders of the heart.
It is worth noting that the development of osteoporosis increases the risk of injuries and fractures of the bones that make up the hip joint: the acetabulum, located on the side of the pelvic bones, the epiphysis of the femur, and so on.
Symptoms of osteoporosiship joint
Often the described disease proceeds with little to no symptoms. However, the gradual destruction of bone tissue occurs constantly. At the same time, dividing bone cells - osteoblasts - do not regenerate. Symptoms of the disease begin to appear after a while. And, as a rule, this happens when the third part of the osteoblasts ceases to function.
The development of any disease can be detected only by determining the provoking factors and the corresponding symptoms. So, pain in osteoporosis of the hip joint is observed:
- on the front of the thigh, as well as on the side, with increasing loads (with the development of the disease, discomfort increases);
- in the buttocks and groin - sudden.
Pain is variable. They can be chronic or acute. The pain increases with exertion and decreases with rest. At the same time, changes in gait are observed - the patient thus tries to eliminate the feeling of discomfort. This pathology is also characterized by the absence of factors that cause pain, as well as insomnia and deterioration in general condition.
The symptoms and treatment of osteoporosis of the hip have been studied for many years. And at the doctor's appointment, patients often complain of fatigue, increased irritability, depression, and decreased ability to work. 12 months after the onset of the first signs of the disease, the patient may experience weakness in the leg.
What are the degrees of the disease
Symptoms and treatment of hip osteoporosis depend onstage of the disease. The main difference lies in the pathological changes identified in the diagnostic process. At the moment, there are 4 degrees of osteoporosis of the hip joint:
- At this stage, the patient only suspects an ailment.
- Mild osteoporosis observed.
- The disease becomes more pronounced.
- Signs of serious illness.
How is hip osteoporosis diagnosed
Symptoms of osteoporosis of the hip joint, unfortunately, do not always allow timely detection of the disease, therefore, if any of the previously listed signs occur, the following studies are carried out:
- MRI - allows you to determine the exact location of the focus of rarefaction in the bone tissue.
- Densitometry is a diagnostic method that detects the initial form of the disease by measuring bone density.
- Fluoroscopy is one of the available diagnostic methods, but which at the same time has low sensitivity. It is possible to determine the disease only after the loss of 30% of bone mass.
- Urine and blood analysis. This method is used to clarify the diagnosis and allows you to determine the amount of phosphorus and calcium in the blood, as well as the level of alkaline phosphatase, insulin, parahormone, thyroxine, estrogen and cortisol.
Compare results
To diagnose the disease, it is necessary to identify signs of osteoporosis of the hip joint, as well as compare the results of mineral densitydice with certain indicators:
- A T-score of +2.5 to -1 deviation from peak bone mass is considered normal.
- Osteopenia. With such a violation, the T-test is from -1 to -2, 5 deviations.
- Osteoporosis. In this case, the T-test has a score below -2.5 deviations.
- Severe degree of osteoporosis. The t-test has a score below -2.5 deviations. The patient has a history of more than one fracture.
How the disease is treated
How to treat osteoporosis of the hip? To avoid negative consequences and serious complications of the described pathology, it is necessary to start therapy for the disease immediately after the diagnosis is made. It is worth noting that injuries received with such an ailment heal very slowly. Treatment consists of complex measures aimed at restoring damaged tissues, as well as stopping the development of pathology. In this case, the therapy of the disease is carried out under the supervision of a physician. Treatment for osteoporosis of the hip includes:
- Medications aimed at slowing down the destruction of bone tissue. Such drugs should help eliminate the main cause of the development of the disease, as well as start regenerative processes.
- Maintaining the required level of calcium in the body with medication and eliminating vitamin D deficiency.
- Relief of loads on the damaged joint, the use of physiotherapy exercises for recoverybones of the diseased joint.
It is worth noting that the methods of treating osteoporosis of the hip or knee joint do not differ in the nature of therapeutic procedures from the described disease.
Traditional Medicine Methods
Transient osteoporosis of the hip joint and other varieties of the disease can be cured if you see a doctor in a timely manner. In the presence of such pathologies, they can be prescribed:
- Anabolic drugs that activate the processes of bone tissue repair, for example, testosterone drugs, Raloxifene, Teriparatide, and so on.
- Antiresorptive drugs that slow down the destruction of tissue structure, such as Risedronate, Alenronate, Ethyldronate, Calcitonin.
- Hormonal drugs to eliminate the root cause of the disease, as well as to replace all the missing hormones. Such drugs are prescribed for women during menopause and with the extinction of sexual function. They are able to restore the level of gestagens, androgens and estrogens.
- Medicines with calcium to eliminate the deficiency of this mineral, slow down destructive changes, relieve pain. Ideal for Calcitonin, C altrate, Calcium Gluconate.
- Vitamin D and its metabolites. Often prescribed "Calcium D3", "Alfadol-Ca", "Natekal D3", "Aquadetrim".
Alternative medicine
Some experts also welcome alternative treatment of osteoporosis of the hip joint. This is considereda good addition to traditional therapy of the disease. However, it is not recommended to take or cancel the prescribed medicines on your own. It is worth consulting a doctor. Most often recommended:
- Apply a compress to the affected area, which contains "Dimexide" and an infusion of comfrey herb. The course of treatment is no more than two weeks.
- The area of the damaged joint can be rubbed daily with ointment. To prepare it in a water bath, it is necessary to heat 50 g of spruce resin, 25 g of copper sulfate and 150 g of olive oil. After cooling, add 2 tablespoons of onion juice to the resulting mixture.
- Take warm baths. To do this, a decoction of willow bark should be diluted in water. The procedure must be performed for 20 minutes.
Disease prevention
Any disease is much easier to prevent than to get rid of its consequences. Preventive measures in this case include:
- Power control. The diet should contain the required amount of foods rich in fiber and protein. It is necessary to completely abandon alcoholic beverages, as well as food rich in cholesterol. Regularly it is recommended to consume foods that contain a large amount of minerals. Milk should also be present in the diet.
- It is worth taking vitamin complexes and sunbathing.
- Lifestyle should be active. However, it is recommended to avoid heavy loads.
- It is worth doing special exercises for osteoporosis of the hip joint. Suchgymnastics is able to provide a dynamic load. In addition, there are exercises for resistance and flexibility. When doing gymnastics, avoid overloads, sudden movements and jerks.
List of exercises
To prevent osteoporosis of the hip joint, experts recommend the following exercises:
- "Bicycle". Lie on your back and circle your legs.
- Get on all fours and simultaneously raise your right arm and left leg, and then your left arm and right leg. In this position, you need to linger for 8-10 seconds.
- Lie on your side and lift your leg up. Hold this position for 10 seconds. Then gently roll over to the other side and do the exercise with the second leg.
What prediction
Only a timely visit to a doctor and an accurate diagnosis will help to avoid further development of hip osteoporosis, its complications and consequences. If therapy is started at an early stage of the disease, then the chances of restoring mobility will be much higher than with the prompt solution of the problem. Only the strict implementation of all medical prescriptions and recommendations gives a chance for a complete cure for osteoporosis of hip joint.
Finally
In most cases, hip osteoporosis occurs as a result of neglect of preventive measures that can protect bone tissue from many pathological processes. Do not forget that the development of the disease is fraught with a complete lossmobility, so it is important to take preventive measures, and if any signs of hip osteoporosis occur, you should immediately contact a specialist. Only a doctor can prescribe complex therapy. Self-medication in some cases may not work and lead to more serious complications.
