Synergistic Action in Pain Therapy: An Observational Study on the Combined Use of Oxygen-Ozone Therapy and Oral and Topical Nutraceutical Supplementation

Abstract

Introduction: Chronic musculoskeletal pain, often resistant to conventional treatments, negatively impacts patients’ quality of life. In recent years, multimodal and integrative approaches have gained increasing importance in managing this condition. Oxygen-ozone therapy and the use of nutraceutical supplements have been recognized as emerging strategies in pain treatment.

Objective: To evaluate the synergistic efficacy of the combination of oxygen-ozone therapy and topical and oral nutraceutical supplementation in reducing pain symptoms, exploiting the anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and regenerative properties of ozone and the ability of nutraceutical supplementation to induce healing processes.

Materials and Methods: Prospective observational study conducted on 54 patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain, treated with an average of 10 sessions of oxygen-ozone therapy on a weekly basis via paravertebral or intra-articular injections and selected nutraceutical supplements administered orally for oxidative stress and for improving sleep quality and anxiety symptoms, and topically for a local analgesic and anti-inflammatory action. Pain assessment was performed using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). A quality-of-life questionnaire (SF-36) was administered to assess the physical, mental, and emotional impact of this intervention in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain.

Results: A statistically significant reduction in mean VAS scores was observed at the end of treatment, with a mean reduction of 65% (p<0.001). Quality of life questionnaires showed significant improvement in domains related to pain, mobility with functional limitations in daily life and work, and to mental and emotional state.

Conclusions: The integrated treatment with oxygen-ozone therapy and oral and topical nutraceutical supplementation showed efficacy and good tolerability in the management of chronic musculoskeletal pain, suggesting that new personalized therapeutic models, oriented towards the integration of traditional and complementary medicine, can be exploited for patients suffering from pain.