title: The use of topical 4% lidocaine in spheno-palatine ganglion blocks for the treatment of chronic muscle pain syndromes: a randomized, controlled trial.
abstract: To assess the efficacy of 4% topical lidocaine in spheno-palatine blocks, a randomized controlled trial was carried out on patients with chronic muscle pain syndromes. Sixty-one patients (42 with fibromyalgia (FM) and 19 with myofascial pain syndrome (MPS)) completed the trial. Outcome measures included pain intensity, a daily pain diary, headache frequency, sensitivity to pressure using a dolorimeter, anxiety, depression, and sleep quality. Patients were randomized to receive either 4% lidocaine or sterile water (placebo) 6 times over a 3-week period. Both subjects and investigators were blind to treatment allocation. The results showed that 4% lidocaine had no superiority over placebo in any of the outcome measures. Twenty-one subjects (35%) showed a decrease in pain which was greater than 30% of their baseline value. Of these 21 subjects, 10 received lidocaine and 11 received placebo. These data suggest that, in this population, 4% lidocaine is no better than placebo in the treatment of chronic muscle pain.
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D001340:Autonomic Nerve Block / Q000009:adverse effects; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D005726:Ganglia, Parasympathetic / Q000502:physiology*; D005730:Ganglionic Blockers / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D009209:Myofascial Pain Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D010146:Pain / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D059408:Pain Management; D012890:Sleep; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005730:Ganglionic Blockers; D008012:Lidocaine