Coxarthrosis is a form of arthrosis that affects the hip joints. A similar disease is quite common in modern medical practice. In the absence of qualified treatment, a sick patient becomes lame, and after some time the joint completely loses mobility. Why does coxarthrosis occur? What it is? What treatment methods are used today?
Coxarthrosis: what is it?
As already mentioned, the disease is accompanied by damage and gradual deformation of the hip joint. The disease can be both primary (its causes are unclear), and secondary. The deforming process can begin in the upper or lower pole, as well as in the central part of the hip joint.
The main causes of coxarthrosis
If the cause of primary arthrosis cannot be determined, the secondary form of the disease, on the contrary, can develop under the influence of completely different factors:
- Quite often, the cause is a congenital dislocation or subluxation of the hip joint. By the way, such injuries are much more often diagnosed among newborn girls.
- Risk factors include fractures of the pelvis, acetabulum, and femoral head.
- On the other hand, no less often coxarthrosis develops in the presence of many microtrauma caused by an increase in the load on the joint. A similar problem is faced by athletes, people whose work is associated with strong physical stress, as well as those suffering from obesity.
- Benign and malignant bone tumors also lead to the development of arthrosis.
- Spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis are often the cause of joint tissue deformation.
Coxarthrosis: symptoms and signs of the disease
This disease is extremely common. Unfortunately, not every sick person goes to the doctor in the initial stages, which makes the treatment process more complicated and lengthy. And now that you have information about why coxarthrosis occurs, what it is, it is worth familiarizing yourself with its symptoms.
- At the first stage, pains in the thigh appear , which can extend to the knee. Discomfort, as a rule, is associated with physical exertion and subsides during rest.
- In the second stage, serious violations of the functions of the joint occur, which are already impossible not to notice. The pain intensifies and now bother a person not only during physical activity, but also at rest. The mobility of the joint decreases - this is how lameness develops, which becomes more distinct during physical exertion. The muscles of the affected limb begin to weaken.
- At the third stage, the pain becomes almost constant - it worries a person even at night, which affects the quality of sleep and emotional state. The pain extends to the thigh, groin, knee, lower leg, and sometimes the foot. The mobility of the joint is sharply limited, the muscles are atrophied - this leads to displacement of the pelvis and severe lameness.
How is hip arthrosis treated ?
Of course, with such problems you need to contact a specialist. Only a doctor knows why coxarthrosis occurs, what it is and what treatment methods will be optimal. Therapy depends on the degree of joint damage. In the initial stages, patients are prescribed anti-inflammatory analgesic ointments (Diclofenac),
vasodilators (improve blood flow and trophic tissue of the joint), chondroprotectors (stimulate the process of regeneration of cartilage elements), and sometimes muscle relaxants (help relieve muscle spasm and relieve pain). Regular exercises in therapeutic gymnastics are also necessary, but only under the supervision of a specialist.
Treatment of coxarthrosis of the joints in more severe cases requires surgical intervention.