Hip joint is the largest joint of our body, which bears the entire weight of the body. When degenerative changes (arthrosis) begin in it, it immediately affects the quality of life: it becomes difficult to put on shoes, climb stairs or even just walk in the park. Coxarthrosis is insidious in that in the early stages it can masquerade as pain in the lower back or knee, forcing the patient to treat the wrong thing.
“Red flags”: when the joint has exhausted its resource:
- Pain in the groin: this is a classic sign of coxarthrosis. The pain usually radiates to the groin or the front surface of the thigh.
- Morning stiffness: You need to "split" within 15-20 minutes of waking up to get the joint working.
- Lameness: you unconsciously begin to protect your leg, which leads to a misalignment of the pelvis and back pain.
- Limitation of movement: it becomes difficult to move the leg to the side or pull the knee to the chest
- Shortening of the limb: in the later stages, the leg may become shorter due to destruction of the femoral head.
Why is the hip joint destroyed?
The main causes of coxarthrosis in adult patients are:
- Age-related wear of cartilage: gradual loss of elasticity and thickness of cartilage tissue.
- Dysplasia (joint underdevelopment): a hidden problem from childhood that makes itself felt after 30-40 years.
- Consequences of injuries: history of femoral neck or acetabulum fractures.
- Aseptic necrosis: violation of the blood supply of the femoral head, which leads to its rapid destruction.
My experience: I successfully help patients to return to an active life even in the most difficult cases. Check out our [case of treatment of severe coxarthrosis], where we detailed the patient’s journey from excruciating pain to full rehabilitation after joint replacement.
Diagnostics: from clinical tests to 3D modeling
We conduct a comprehensive examination to determine the exact stage of the disease:
- Digital radiography (X-ray of the pelvis): key method. It must be done in a standing position to see the real narrowing of the joint space under load.
- MRI of the hip joint: allows you to detect the early stages of arthrosis and aseptic necrosis, when nothing is still visible on the X-ray.
- Clinical tests: assessment of amplitude of movements and muscle strength during reception.
Treatment strategy: preserve or replace
Our main task is to delay the operation as much as possible, or to conduct it brilliantly if the time has come.
- Conservative therapy (stages 1–2):
- Introduction of hyaluronic acid: “lubricating” the joint to reduce friction.
- PRP therapy: stimulation of tissue regeneration with own plasma.
- Physical therapy: strengthening the thigh muscles, which take part of the load off the joint.
- Surgical treatment (3-4 stages)
- Endoprosthesis: replacement of the destroyed joint with a modern implant (ceramics/titanium). This is an operation that in one day relieves the pain that tormented me for years.
FAQ: What patients ask about coxarthrosis
— Is it possible to cure arthrosis of the 3rd degree with tablets or ointments? Unfortunately, no. Chondroprotectors and ointments can slightly reduce symptoms in the early stages, but at stage 3 the cartilage is already destroyed. Only surgery or supportive therapy to relieve acute pain will help here.
— How many years does an endoprosthesis last? Modern systems (ceramic-ceramic or ceramic-polyethylene) are designed for 20-25 years or more, depending on the activity of the patient.
— How fast will I be able to walk after joint replacement? We activate patients the very next day after surgery. Walking with full support on the leg is allowed almost immediately, initially with additional support (walkers or crutches).
YOUR STEP TO HEALTH
Coxarthrosis is not a sentence, but a diagnosis that requires a systemic approach. Modern techniques allow us to either stop the disease in the early stages, or completely restore the function of the leg with the help of endoprosthetics.
DON’T LET PAIN LIMIT YOUR LIFE. SIGN UP FOR A CONSULTATION WITH AN ORTHOPEDIST-TRAUMALOGIST IN ODESSA AND LEARN ABOUT THE REAL STATE OF YOUR JOINTS TODAY!