Hip arthrosis is a degenerative disease of the hip joint. The name coxarthrosis is derived from the Latin term coxa for hip. Of all joint arthrosis, the hip is most commonly affected.
What is hip arthrosis?
Schematic representation Difference between healthy joint, arthritis and arthrosis.
According to abbreviationfinder, coxarthrosis is accompanied by a breakdown of articular cartilage. This puts undue stress on the socket and head of the joint, causing pain and restricted movement. Osteoarthritis of the hip is divided into two types.
There is currently no known cause for primary osteoarthritis of the hip. It usually occurs after the age of 50. About 2/3 of the patients who suffer from hip arthrosis suffer from secondary coxarthrosis. These patients are often younger and a cause for the disease can be identified.
Causes
The causes of hip arthrosis can be congenital malformations of the hip joint. In this case, the joint socket is often not strong enough, so that the femoral head does not have sufficient support, resulting in incorrect loading of the hip joint.
If coxarthrosis tends to run in families, congenital cartilage weakness could be the cause. Other causes are inflammatory joint diseases, accidents, incorrect loads, obesity and circulatory disorders.
One-sided movements and lack of exercise are also known to be causes of coxarthrosis. The risk of developing coxarthrosis increases with age because the cartilage tissue that protects the joint and facilitates joint movement shrinks.
Symptoms, Ailments & Signs
An existing osteoarthritis of the hip is associated with various symptoms and complaints that should definitely be treated medically and with medication. Otherwise, the existing symptoms cannot be expected to be eliminated. A clear sign of osteoarthritis of the hip is a significant limitation of the range of motion.
With every movement, you can clearly hear the pain, which depends on the exact type of movement. Muscle tension in the affected region is also a common symptom of existing hip arthrosis. Stiffness of the joint can occur, especially in the morning, so that the pain is usually more intense and stronger in the morning hours. In the course of the day, the pain caused by movement often decreases in those affected because the muscles and joints become warm.
However, this is not an indication of an early improvement or healing, but a sign of a joint effusion that is occurring. Another and also very typical symptom of hip arthrosis is severe pain when getting up from a deep chair. This movement puts a direct strain on the joints that are damaged in hip arthrosis. As affected individuals avoid certain movements over time, significant muscle tension can occur. Another sign of hip arthrosis, so that treatment by an appropriate doctor is essential.
Diagnosis & History
The orthopedic surgeon diagnoses osteoarthritis of the hip by manually examining the mobility of the hip and taking an X-ray. The X-ray shows a narrowing of the joint space, a deformation of the joint head and changes in the cartilage tissue. Some bone formations are also visible.
If the cartilage tissue decreases or if there are tears in the cartilage tissue, the articular surfaces of the hip joint are subjected to significantly greater stress. This causes pain when moving and walking. Typical in the early stages of osteoarthritis of the hip joint is pain in the groin and hip joint in the morning, which subsides when the affected person moves.
As the disease progresses, restricted movement occurs, the affected hip has to be held in a protective position, and there is pain at rest. The patients can no longer rotate their leg, spread them later on, or stretch them. Due to the lack of stretching ability of the hip joint, there is a functional leg shortening and a resulting deterioration in the gait pattern.
Complications
Osteoarthritis of the hip usually causes severe pain. This pain can present as either pressure pain or rest pain and negatively impacts the patient’s quality of life. The rest pain can also occur at night and lead to sleep disorders and general irritability of the patient.
In addition to the pain in the hips, there is also pain in the joints and in the groin. The pain also limits movement. These can lead to depression and other psychological problems, especially in young patients. It is not uncommon for a gait disorder to occur in addition to the movement restrictions, such as limping or limping.
In most cases, the diagnosis of osteoarthritis of the hip is relatively simple and clear, so that treatment can begin quickly. This takes place with the help of medication and various therapies and in most cases is not burdened with any particular complications. In severe cases, an artificial hip joint is necessary for the patient. Life expectancy is not limited by hip arthrosis. The treatment also cannot guarantee that the pain and discomfort will disappear completely.
When should you go to the doctor?
If hip joint arthrosis is suspected, medical advice is required. Those affected should see a doctor immediately with symptoms such as hip pain, restricted mobility and gait disorders. If the cartilage tissue continues to decrease, tears appear in the cartilage tissue, which can cause pain and functional disorders, among other things. Medical advice is required if the symptoms appear gradually and increase in intensity over the course of weeks or months. If the pain also occurs during quiet phases, 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 the complaints and symptoms mentioned quickly clarified. The same applies to people who move little or who cannot put excessive strain on the hip joints due to an illness. Since osteoarthritis of the hip is a degenerative disease, the state of health must be checked regularly. Those affected should consult their family doctor or an orthopedist and, if necessary, consult a specialist in arthritic diseases.
Treatment & Therapy
Coxarthrosis therapy depends on the stage of the disease and the cause. In the case of malpositions in the hip joint, corrective surgery can prevent or slow down the development of hip joint arthritis.
The main goals of the therapy are pain relief and a reduction in the progressive course of arthrosis of the hip joint. The pain should be eliminated or reduced by stomach-friendly medication. Heat applications also have a soothing effect on hip pain. Physiotherapy is very important, especially in the case of osteoarthritis of the hip. Here the patient learns exercises that maintain the mobility of the hip joint and strengthen the musculature of the hip joint.
A strong musculature fixes and relieves the hip joint better. Furthermore, the patient learns to relieve his hip joint with certain traction exercises. Exercises in the water while reducing the severity offer very good opportunities to optimally mobilize the hip joint.
In the advanced stage of hip arthrosis and in the case of significant 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 any problems. Depending on the findings, only part of the hip joint or a complete hip joint is implanted.
Prevention
The development of osteoarthritis of the hip joint can be prevented in various ways. Sufficient and regular exercise stimulates the supply of nutrients to the cartilage tissue and helps to reduce the risk of the disease. Furthermore, care should be taken to wear comfortable shoes in order to avoid malpositions in the hip joint. Being overweight increases the risk of hip joint disease significantly. A ten percent reduction in body weight reduces the risk of developing hip arthrosis by 50 percent.
You can do that yourself
In order to support the therapy for osteoarthritis of the hip joint, those affected can do a lot themselves. This includes a largely plant-based and wholesome diet rich in vital substances. Being overweight puts a strain on the joints and should be greatly reduced in the case of hip arthrosis. In addition, the fat cells constantly produce pro-inflammatory substances. These cause additional joint pain. It is also advisable to avoid alcohol and sugar. Those affected should remain smoke-free. According to studies, smokers suffer significantly more from osteoarthritis pain than non-smokers.
It is also important to have existing mineral and vital substance deficiencies corrected. A family doctor or naturopath can do a check on this and advise those affected. In the case of hip arthrosis, it makes sense to take measures to detoxify and deacidify. Stress should also be avoided. There are many relaxation methods that can help. Adaptogens are also helpful. This is a herbal preparation that makes those affected more resistant to stress.
In order to counteract osteoarthritis of the hip joint, more exercise in everyday life is recommended. Walking, yoga or tai chi are extremely helpful . In addition, those affected should have any incorrect loads corrected. High-heeled shoes should be avoided entirely.
