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DISEASE AWARENESS PAGE FOR R3 STEM CELL – HIP ARTHRITIS

WHAT IS HIP ARTHRITIS?

Hip arthritis is a progressive degenerative condition that affects the hip joints. It is a type of arthritis and is characterized by wearing away of the bones and cartilages around the joint. There is also inflammation of the joint linings and surrounding tissue in hip arthritis. Because of the hip’s important position in the body, this condition can be debilitating. It causes pain and discomfort while limiting the activities that the individual can perform.

 

There are several types of arthritis, and any one of them can affect the hip. However, the most common type of arthritis associated with the hip is osteoarthritis. Other types include rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and sometimes, psoriatic arthritis. Each of these present with slightly different symptoms, although they have common ones too.

The Hip Joint

The hip joint is a ball and socket synovial joint, and it’s made up of the head of the femur and the acetabulum of the ilium bone. Along with the ischium and the pubis, the ilium bone forms the pelvis, and these help attach the upper body to the lower limbs. The bones that make up the hip joint are supported by a joint capsule, several ligaments, and muscles. These ligaments and muscles attach to these bones, and they leverage them for movement.

 

The hip joint is responsible for transferring the weight from the torso to the lower limbs and as a result, it is very prone to conditions like dislocations and arthritis. In arthritis, the more load is placed on the affected joint, the faster the condition progresses, and the worse the joint gets. As a result, hip arthritis is very uncomfortable. 

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HOW ARTHRITIS AFFECTS THE HIP JOINT? 

There are two ways in which arthritis affects the hip joint—the primary and the secondary. The primary means is when the hip joint is affected directly by the arthritis, and it involves all the normal phenomena associated with arthritis. These include inflammation of the joint tissue, wear of the joint ligament, and others. 

 

The secondary means is also known as the indirect means. As mentioned earlier, the hip joint plays a crucial role in the body’s kinesiology (the way the parts of the body move). The more “excess” load it bears, the worse off it’ll be. Hip arthritis can also occur as a result of another condition that may affect the composition of the joint cartilage. In this case, the joint cartilage is weakened by disease. This weakened cartilage then sets off the process of arthritis in the other parts of the body.

 

One of the conditions that can cause cartilage weakening is hemochromatosis. Hemochromatosis is a condition characterized by the excessive consumption of iron. In addition to weakened joint cartilages, this condition can also cause joint pain, fatigue, weakness, and in extreme conditions, organ failure.

TYPES OF ARTHRITIS THAT AFFECT THE HIP JOINT

Earlier, we discussed how several kinds of arthritis could affect the hip joint. These include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and psoriatic arthritis. The difference between these kinds of arthritis is their causes. While some occur as a result of the normal bodily process of ageing, others like rheumatoid arthritis, are due to an autoimmune anomaly.

Osteoarthritis

This is the most common form of arthritis, and it’s characterized by degenerative changes in the bone, as well as inflammation. Osteoarthritis is a normal part of the ageing process. When osteoarthritis affects the hip, it often affects a single joint.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the body’s immune system begins to attack normal healthy tissue. The cause is currently unknown, and it is known to affect both hip joints at the same time.

 

Ankylosing spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis is a degenerative condition in which the bones of a joint fuse together over time, limiting movement, and causing pain. It is accompanied by inflammation, and mostly affects the bones of the spine. It also affects the Sacroiliac joint (the joint between the lower part of the vertebrae and the hip bone) and as a result, often spreads to the hip joint.

 

Psoriatic arthritis

This kind of arthritis accompanies psoriasis (the skin condition). It too causes joint swelling, pain, stiffness and it can affect any parts of the body, including the hip.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF HIP ARTHRITIS? 

The most significant symptom of hip arthritis is pain around the affected hip. Depending on the kind of arthritis, there may also be accompanying symptoms. For example, in psoriatic arthritis, the is usually skin rashes and other symptoms of the condition.

 

In rheumatoid arthritis, both hip joints are affected. However, in ankylosing spondylitis, hip pain is usually accompanied by low back pain and stiffness.

 

Besides pain, some other symptoms associated with hip arthritis include:

HOW COMMON IS HIP ARTHRITIS AND WHO IS AT RISK?

In 2010, it was reported that about 2.2 out of every 10 US citizens had some kind of arthritis. The prevalence of arthritis is much higher in people over 60 than in younger individuals. A study showed that half of the people over the age of 65 have arthritis. This is almost double the figure in younger people, which is about 22 out of 100 individuals 18 years and above.

The risk factors of hip arthritis are:

 

AGE 

The older an individual gets, the more likely they are to develop arthritis.

 

OBESITY 

As discussed earlier, more load on the hip joint leads to greater stress and more degeneration. Obese people are thus at a higher risk of developing arthritis than people with a normal body mass index.

 

PRIOR JOINT TRAUMA

 

SEDENTARY LIVING

 

HOW IS HIP ARTHRITIS DIAGNOSED?

There is no single definitive lab test that can be conducted to confirm the presence of hip arthritis. However, history, physical examination, and radiological investigations can help rule out some other conditions and reveal the damage in the joint. A history of pain and discomfort around the hip joint is indicative of hip arthritis. 

The suspicion can further be confirmed by X-ray images. These can help show reduced joint space as well as degeneration of the bones that make up the hip joint.

WHAT ARE THE TREATMENT OPTIONS AVAILABLE? 

After the diagnosis, the treatment for hip arthritis usually consists of multiple treatments. The goals are to

The treatments of hip arthritis include:

LIFESTYLE MODIFICATION 

This involves weight loss and modifying daily activity to cause the least amount of stress. Losing weight can substantially reduce the progression of the condition and reduce the amount of pain felt by the individual. 

THE USE OF PAIN KILLERS AND NON-STEROIDAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUGS

These can help to reduce the pain felt by the individual while reducing the inflammation around the joint.

 

CORTICOSTEROID INJECTIONS 

These can be injected directly into the joint space to reduce the inflammation in the joint.

 

PHYSICAL THERAPY

Physical therapy is very crucial in preserving the range of motion and overall function of the hip joint. Exercises that keep the joint moving and active can go a long way. Additionally, exercises are prescribed for strengthening the muscles around the hip, increasing the support and preventing further complications like a fracture.

 

SURGERY

If all else fails, surgical intervention can often be considered as a treatment for the condition. Procedures like total hip replacements and osteotomy surgeries are considered.

Here are answers to many of the frequently asked questions we receive.

TYPES

Arthritis can be classified into several types. Osteoarthritis is caused by the normal aging process of the body, or could be a result of injury.

Rheumatoid arthritis, the most common type of arthritis, happens due to autoimmune problems, wherein the body’s own immune system attacks healthy cells of the body. Infectious arthritis is caused by an infection to the joint. Patients with psoriasis may be affected by Psoriatic arthritis. Finally, excessive uric acid in the body can cause Gout, an arthritis that often starts at the toe.

RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

 

What is it?

Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory form of arthritis. This disease causes chronic inflammation of the joints and can lead to deterioration of a variety of systems in the body. Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the immune system attacks the lining of the membrane around the joints known as the synovium, which causes inflammation that thickens the synovium and ultimately deforms the cartilage and bone of the joints.

 

How common is it and who is at risk?

An estimated one percent of the entire world population suffers from rheumatoid arthritis. As the case with osteoarthritis, women are more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis. Other groups at risk are people middle-aged or older as well as those suffering from obesity. Rheumatoid arthritis risk is inheritable, which may be accelerated by smoking or unknown environmental exposures.

 

What are the symptoms?

Signs of the disease include swollen, tender joints that may feel stiff, particularly in the mornings. Fever, fatigue, and loss of activity are also common symptoms. Rheumatoid arthritis tends to manifest initially in the smaller joints like those in the fingers and toes. Symptoms are exhibited in joints of other body parts as the disease spreads.

 

How is it diagnosed?

Diagnosis begins with a physical test checking for redness, warmth, and swelling as well as the state of reflexes in the affected joints. Multiple blood tests are conducted as people with rheumatoid arthritis usually have elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rates and C-reactive protein levels. Additionally, X-rays, MRIs, and ultrasounds are conducted to track the spread of the disease.

 

What are the treatment options available?

While no cure exists as of now, research has revealed that the symptoms may be controlled by early application of disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Steroids or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be prescribed depending on the case. Exercises to retain joint flexibility also provide some relief. If medications fail to slow down the disease, doctors may recommend surgery to repair or replace joints or swollen tendons.

RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

 

What is it?

Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory form of arthritis. This disease causes chronic inflammation of the joints and can lead to deterioration of a variety of systems in the body. Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the immune system attacks the lining of the membrane around the joints known as the synovium, which causes inflammation that thickens the synovium and ultimately deforms the cartilage and bone of the joints.

 

How common is it and who is at risk?

An estimated one percent of the entire world population suffers from rheumatoid arthritis. As the case with osteoarthritis, women are more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis. Other groups at risk are people middle-aged or older as well as those suffering from obesity. Rheumatoid arthritis risk is inheritable, which may be accelerated by smoking or unknown environmental exposures.

 

What are the symptoms?

Signs of the disease include swollen, tender joints that may feel stiff, particularly in the mornings. Fever, fatigue, and loss of activity are also common symptoms. Rheumatoid arthritis tends to manifest initially in the smaller joints like those in the fingers and toes. Symptoms are exhibited in joints of other body parts as the disease spreads.

 

How is it diagnosed?

Diagnosis begins with a physical test checking for redness, warmth, and swelling as well as the state of reflexes in the affected joints. Multiple blood tests are conducted as people with rheumatoid arthritis usually have elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rates and C-reactive protein levels. Additionally, X-rays, MRIs, and ultrasounds are conducted to track the spread of the disease.

 

What are the treatment options available?

While no cure exists as of now, research has revealed that the symptoms may be controlled by early application of disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Steroids or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be prescribed depending on the case. Exercises to retain joint flexibility also provide some relief. If medications fail to slow down the disease, doctors may recommend surgery to repair or replace joints or swollen tendons.

JUVENILE IDIOPATHIC ARTHRITIS

Arthritis Stem Cell Therapy

What is it?

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) is the most prevalent form of arthritis within kids. It is characterized by persistent pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints. The disease occurs when the body’s own tissues are attacked by its cells. In some cases, it can create more serious complications such as growth problems and eye inflammation.

 

How common is it and who is at risk?

It is the most common form of arthritis diagnosed in children under the age of sixteen. Certain gene mutations can make the body more vulnerable to the external environment, which can result in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis occurring. Although reasons are unknown, girls are more susceptible to Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis than boys.

 

What are the symptoms?

Commonplace symptoms include joint pain or a limp caused by the pain, swelling of joints and stiffness of the joints that results in clumsiness by the child. In some cases, the disease can manifest as high fever and rashes.

 

How is it diagnosed?

Diagnosis for Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis is difficult as the pain and swelling in the joints could be attributed to a number of diseases. Quite a few blood tests are conducted to determine the status of markers like erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein levels, and quantity of anti-nuclear bodies, among others. However, many children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis show no abnormalities in these tests.

 

What are the treatment options available?

The treatment for Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis is geared towards making sure the child can maintain a regular level of physical activity. This can include different types of medication like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce pain and swelling or disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs in more severe cases. Biologic agents may be recommended to help prevent joint damage. Physical therapy can also help the child maintain a full range of motion with or without joint supports or splints based on the situation. Surgery is the most extreme option used to improve the position of the affected joint.

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