Each of our joints has two surfaces that fit together like a key lock. All bulges on one joint surface correspond to indentations on the other. Such an exact coincidence of surfaces has a medical name - congruence. The upper ends of the bones that make up the joint are covered with cartilage for better glide. The joint bag, ligaments and muscles protect the joint. Osteoarthritis destroys one of the most common diseases of the joints, cartilage and bone surfaces. At the same time, some of the special joint fluid is produced, which ensures smooth movements, the ends of the bones gather and begin to rub against each other, causing pain and discomfort to its owner. Meanwhile, in osteoarthritis, there is no formal inflammation in the joint, which distinguishes it from arthritis.
Why osteoarthritis of the hip occurs: age
Such a disaster as osteoarthritis can happen to any joint in our body. The defeat is one-sided and two-sided. Age, overweight, injuries, flat feet, spinal scoliosis, arthritis, joint displacement, excessive stress on it, but at the same time a sedentary lifestyle contribute to the disease. The joints are made to move! Meanwhile, standing upright predisposes to osteoarthritis of the hip. In animals, such a disease does not occur, in them the load on the joints is distributed more evenly.
The hip joint is the second in volume of movement after the shoulder joint. Indeed, we can normally move our legs back and forth, in and out and even rotational movements. This joint carries a very large load. It consists of the head of the femur and the socket of the pelvis. Osteoarthritis of this joint is medically known as coxarthrosis. A huge number of people suffer from this disease. Women get sick more often and, of course, the peak of the disease occurs after the age of 40. In 70% of cases this is due to the natural wear and tear of the joint, impaired blood supply and metabolism.
Signs of joint damage: pain when walking and at rest
The first symptom of osteoarthritis of the hip is pain in the groin when climbing stairs. There may be no pain when going down the stairs. Later, the pain may begin to spread to the knee. Some of the various movements in the joint will be limited. For example, lifting a leg, that is, bending it in the thigh, can be painful, but turning the leg back is not. Turning the leg inward is painful, and moving it to the side is also painful but bearable. It is often not possible to kneel, as this movement also involves the hip joint. And limitations in mobility occur not only due to pain, but also due to changes in the joint itself.
Due to the fact that the hip joint is involved in walking, running and many other movements, its defeat imposes social restrictions on the patient. And with osteoarthritis of the third degree, the pain is already disturbing not only during movement, but also at rest, in particular, they do not allow you to sleep at night. It is difficult to turn in bed. And sometimes the pain is so severe that it forces the patient to constantly take painkillers, which in itself is not always harmless. Thus, frequent use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can lead to the formation or exacerbation of gastric ulcers.
Treatment of osteoarthritis: arthroplasty
Many years ago, when modern prosthetic surgery was not yet available, surgeons still operated on patients with coxarthrosis. At the same time, the goal of the operation was not to treat osteoarthritis, but to completely immobilize the joint. After recovering from this difficult surgery, the patient walked, dragging his legs. Many movements were inaccessible to him, but at least they were not in pain. And then an artificial hip joint was invented and it became possible to help such patients as much as possible - with a new joint they can walk painlessly and perform other movements, no different from healthy people. So, an 80-year-old patient who underwent arthroplasty of both hips then came to the doctor with the question, "Can I ski? "".
Today, coxarthrosis surgeries are well-established. Such treatment of osteoarthritis of the hip is available to many people, including many elderly people, unless, of course, there are no life contraindications, such as severe heart disease, lung and other organs. What is the essence of the operation? We have a completely non-functioning joint, its cartilage layer is worn out, everything is overgrown and does not move.
How is osteoarthritis performed?
Then you need to understand how the femur is arranged: it has a head that enters the joint and a trochanter to which many muscles are attached that move the legs. This is the skewer we feel through the skin. So, during the operation, the head of the bone is removed and the trochanter is left. Cartilage remnants are also removed from the pelvic cavity. An artificial head is placed in its place. The head "sits" on a metal rod that is attached to the femur. The incision is made in the inguinal area, its length is only 7-8 cm.
On the first day after the operation the patient gets up, on the third day they are forced to walk. And within one to two months, these patients fully restore the range of motion in the joint. Of course, after such treatment of osteoarthritis, a certain motor regime is needed, which contributes to recovery. But this is the doctor's concern - to give competent advice, to learn how to use this new word of technology in his own body.
The prostheses are made of light and durable materials, which makes them durable. There are different prostheses. The doctor chooses the optimal one based on the person's age, his further "claims" for movement and other factors. And in our country many of these operations are done completely free of charge. You will have to wait in line for a while, but half a year is not tenToday, thanks to advances in medicine, with coxarthrosis you can get rid of pain and lead an active lifestyle. , the more difficult it is to treat the patient, even with the help of modern technology.