Efficacy of mesotherapy vs. oral combination therapy in acute and subacute neck pain

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Created On: 01/10/2026

Acute and subacute neck pain can impair daily functioning and cervical mobility, with pharmacological treatment commonly involving oral analgesic and muscle-relaxant therapy.

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Key take away

Intradermal mesotherapy significantly reduces pain and neck-related disability, with outcomes comparable to oral meloxicam + thiocolchicoside over 14 days.

Background

Acute and subacute neck pain can impair daily functioning and cervical mobility, with pharmacological treatment commonly involving oral analgesic and muscle-relaxant therapy. Mesotherapy delivers small amounts of medication locally and has emerged as an alternative approach for pain management. The study evaluated the efficacy of mesotherapy compared with oral therapy containing the same active ingredients for management of acute and subacute neck pain.

Method

This randomized controlled trial included 44 patients (6 men and 38 women) suffering from acute or subacute neck pain. Participants received either two mesotherapy sessions administered 7 days apart or oral meloxicam 15 mg once daily + thiocolchicoside 8 mg twice daily for 7 days. Pain intensity, neck-related disability, and cervical range of motion were assessed at baseline and on days 7 and 14. Pain response was also evaluated 30 minutes after each mesotherapy session.

Result

Both treatment groups illustrated remarkable improvements in pain intensity and neck-related disability during follow-up. However, neither treatment demonstrated a significant advantage over the other for changes in VAS or Neck Disability Index (NDI) scores. Cervical range of motion also did not differ substantially within or between groups. An early analgesic response was observed with mesotherapy, with VAS scores markedly decreasing 30 minutes after both treatment sessions.

Conclusion

Mesotherapy produced pain and disability outcomes comparable to oral meloxicam (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, NSAIDs) + thiocolchicoside (muscle relaxant) in acute and subacute neck pain.