Use of lidocaine patch 5% for chronic low back pain: a report of four cases.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the use of the lidocaine patch 5% (Lidoderm), a targeted peripheral analgesic, in treatment of patients with chronic low back pain.

DESIGN: This retrospective case series examines four patients with pain secondary to spinal degeneration and complications from failed back surgery syndrome, who were prescribed the lidocaine patch as an add-on to their analgesic regimen.

SETTING: Bay Area Pain Medical Associates, Mill Valley, California.

PATIENTS: Patients (age range: 33-64 years) were all complicated cases in which multiple analgesics had been prescribed with varying degrees of success. Intervention. Lidocaine patch 5%.

RESULTS: The addition of the lidocaine patch helped relieve varying characteristics of pain, including general pain, shooting pain, burning pain, and allodynia, and had a significant impact on the quality of life of all patients. Some patients were able to reduce or altogether stop some medications. No adverse events were reported from the lidocaine patch.

CONCLUSIONS: Based on our experience with the four cases presented here and with other patients in our clinic, we believe that addition of the lidocaine patch 5% to the analgesic regimen in chronic low back pain may be beneficial. Prospective, controlled clinical trials are planned to further evaluate the efficacy and safety of the lidocaine patch for treatment of chronic low back pain with or without a neuropathic component.