Can I use plasters for bone spurs?

Osteophyte formation, also known as bone spurs or osteochondrophytes, is a common skeletal condition primarily characterized by abnormal bone growth along the edges of bones. This condition is usually associated with aging, long-term mechanical stress, arthritis, and other factors, and commonly occurs in areas such as the spine, knee joints, and hip joints.

Osteophyte formation can be treated with topical medicated plasters, which can effectively help alleviate symptoms associated with this condition.

1. Types of medicated plasters: There are anti-inflammatory and analgesic plasters, such as Indomethacin cataplasm and Flurbiprofen cataplasm, as well as traditional Chinese medicine black plasters, such as Qianshan Huoxue Plaster, Tongluo Qutong Plaster, and Wenjing Tongluo Plaster.

2. Mechanism of action: These plasters primarily relieve local pain and swelling caused by osteophyte formation through mechanisms such as promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis, and relieving pain by restoring meridian flow.

3. Precautions: During the application of medicated plasters, patients should avoid excessive activity to reduce joint irritation and aid in the treatment of their condition.

Medicated plasters can serve as an auxiliary method to alleviate symptoms. The ingredients in these plasters can penetrate through the skin, providing localized anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects, thus reducing discomfort caused by osteophyte formation to a certain extent. However, medicated plasters cannot directly eliminate bone spurs or address the underlying problem; they are used only as adjunctive therapy.