Hip joint arthrosis is a degenerative disease of the hip joint. The name coxarthrosis is derived from the Latin term coxa for hip. Of all joint arthroses, the hip is the most commonly affected.
What is osteoarthritis of the hip?
Schematic diagram difference between healthy joint, arthritis and osteoarthritis. Click to enlarge. Coxarthrosis is associated with a breakdown of the joint cartilage. As a result, excessive stress is placed on the socket and head of the joint, causing pain and limited motion. Hip osteoarthritis is divided into two types. Primary hip osteoarthritis has no known cause at this time. It usually occurs after the age of 50. About 2/3 of patients suffering from hip joint arthrosis have secondary coxarthrosis. These patients are often younger and a cause for the disease is identifiable.
Causes
The causes of hip joint osteoarthritis may be congenital malformations of the hip joint. In this case, the socket is often not formed strong enough, so that the head of the femur does not have sufficient support, and thus there is an incorrect load on the hip joint. If coxarthrosis occurs more frequently in families, a congenital cartilage weakness could be the cause. Other causes are inflammatory joint diseases, accidents, incorrect loads, overweight and circulatory disorders. One-sided movements and lack of exercise are also known causes of coxarthrosis. With age, the risk of developing coxarthrosis increases as the cartilage tissue that protects the joint and facilitates joint movement diminishes.
Symptoms, complaints, and signs
Existing hip osteoarthritis is associated with various symptoms and discomforts that should definitely be treated by a doctor and medication. Otherwise, the existing symptoms are not expected to resolve. A clear sign of hip joint arthrosis is a significant restriction of the range of motion. Significant pain can be heard with every movement, depending on the nature of the exact movement. Muscle tension in the affected region is also a common symptom of existing hip joint arthrosis. Especially in the morning, the joint may become stiff, so the pain is usually more intense and severe in the morning hours. In the course of the day, the pain on movement often decreases in affected persons, as the muscles and joints become warm. However, this is not an indication of an imminent improvement or healing, but a sign of an occurring joint effusion. Another and also very typical symptom of hip joint arthrosis is severe pain when getting up from a low chair. This movement directly stresses the joints that are damaged in hip joint arthrosis. As affected individuals avoid certain movements over time, significant muscle strain can occur. Another sign of hip joint osteoarthritis, so treatment by an appropriate physician becomes essential.
Diagnosis and progression
The orthopedist makes the diagnosis for hip joint osteoarthritis through a manual examination of hip mobility and an x-ray. A narrowing of the joint space, deformation of the condyle, and changes in the cartilage tissue can be seen on the x-ray. In some cases, bone deformations are also visible. If the cartilage tissue decreases or tears occur in the cartilage tissue, the joint surfaces of the hip joint are subjected to significantly greater stress. This results in pain during movements and when walking. Typical of hip joint arthrosis in the early stages are morning pains in the groin and hip joint, which subside when the affected person moves. As the disease progresses, there are restrictions in movement, resting postures of the affected hip, and pain at rest. Patients are no longer able to rotate the leg, and in later stages they are no longer able to abduct or extend it. Due to the lack of extensibility of the hip joint, there is a functional shortening of the leg and a resulting deterioration of the gait pattern.
Complications
Severe pain usually results from osteoarthritis of the hip joint. This pain can present as either pressure pain or pain at rest and negatively affects the patient’s quality of life.The pain at rest can also occur at night, leading to sleep problems and general irritability in the patient. Similarly, in addition to the pain in the hip, there is pain in the joints and in the groin. Due to the pain, movement restrictions also occur. These can lead to depression and other psychological complaints, especially in young patients. It is not uncommon for gait disturbances, such as limping or hobbling, to occur in addition to the movement restrictions. The diagnosis of hip joint arthrosis is relatively simple and clear in most cases, so that treatment can begin quickly. This takes place with the help of medications and various therapies and in most cases is not burdened with special complications. In severe cases, an artificial hip joint is necessary for the patient. The life expectancy is not limited by the hip joint arthrosis. Treatment likewise cannot guarantee that the pain and discomfort will completely disappear.
When should you go to the doctor?
If hip joint osteoarthritis is suspected, medical advice is needed. Affected individuals should see a doctor immediately with symptoms such as hip pain, limited mobility and gait problems. If the cartilage tissue continues to diminish, cracks appear in the cartilage tissue, which can cause pain and functional disorders, among other things. Medical advice is required if the complaints occur gradually and increase in intensity over the course of weeks or months. If the pain also occurs during quiet periods, the disease may already be far advanced and must be clarified immediately. People who suffer from obesity, circulatory disorders or diseases of the hip joint should have these complaints and signs of illness clarified quickly. The same applies to people who do little exercise or cannot put excessive strain on the hip joints due to a disease. Since hip joint arthrosis is a degenerative disease, the state of health must be checked regularly. Affected individuals should involve their primary care physician or an orthopedic surgeon and, if necessary, consult a specialist in arthritic diseases.
Treatment and therapy
The therapy of coxarthrosis depends on the stage of the disease and the cause. For example, if the hip joint is misaligned, corrective surgery can prevent or slow the development of hip arthrosis. The main goals of therapy are pain relief and a reduction in the progressive course of osteoarthritis of the hip joint. Stomach-friendly medications are used to eliminate or reduce pain. Heat applications also have a soothing effect on hip pain. Physiotherapy is very important, especially in the case of osteoarthritis of the hip joint. Here the patient learns exercises that maintain the mobility of the hip joint and strengthen the muscles of the hip joint. Through strong muscles, the hip joint is better fixed and relieved. Furthermore, the patient learns to relieve his hip joint through certain traction exercises. Exercises in water with a decrease in gravity offer very good possibilities to mobilize the hip joint in an optimal way. In the advanced stage of hip joint arthrosis and in case of considerable limitations, surgical therapy is an option. With an artificial hip joint, the patient is able to cope with all the demands of everyday life again without complaints. Here, depending on the findings, only part of the hip joint or a complete hip joint is implanted.
Prevention
The development of hip joint osteoarthritis can be prevented in several ways. Sufficient and regular exercise stimulates a supply of nutrients to the cartilage tissue, and helps to limit the risk for the disease. Furthermore, attention should be paid to wearing comfortable shoes in order to avoid misalignments in the hip joint. Being overweight significantly increases the risk of hip joint disease. A reduction in body weight by ten percent lowers the risk of developing hip joint arthritis by 50 percent.
Here’s what you can do yourself
In order to support the therapy with a hip joint arthrosis, affected persons can contribute some things themselves. This includes a largely plant-based diet as well as a diet rich in whole foods and vital substances. Excess weight puts a strain on the joints and must be greatly reduced in the case of hip joint arthrosis. In addition, fat cells consistently produce substances that promote inflammation.These provide additional joint pain. Furthermore, abstaining from alcohol and sugar is recommended. Those affected should remain smoke-free. According to studies, smokers suffer significantly more from arthritis pain than non-smokers. It is also important to have existing mineral and vital substance deficiencies corrected. A family doctor or alternative practitioner can carry out a check-up in this regard and advise those affected. In the case of hip joint arthrosis, it makes sense to take measures for detoxification and deacidification. Stress should also be avoided. Numerous relaxation methods can help here. Adaptogens are also helpful. This is a herbal preparation that makes sufferers more resistant to stress. To counteract hip joint arthrosis, it is advisable to take more exercise in everyday life. Walking, yoga or tai chi are extremely helpful. In addition, those affected should have any incorrect stresses corrected. High-heeled shoes should be avoided altogether.
