The role of systemic lidocaine in neuropathic pain management.

Pain management is rapidly changing as the mysteries of how healthy and damaged nervous systems work to communicate pain to the brain become better understood. The role of subcutaneous or intravenous lidocaine in the management of neuropathic pain has been increasingly studied. Patients with a variety of pain have been shown to benefit from this therapy, including patients with cancer, postherpetic neuralgia, second degree burns, strokes, and diabetes. As research and experience grow, so too will the practitioner's ability to successfully use intravenous and subcutaneous lidocaine therapy for their patients with pain.