Here's some of what the information says:

"Lidocaine Infusion
Intravenous lidocaine infusion is occasionally administered for diagnostic purposes. A "lidocaine test" may be given in patients with suspected neuropathic pain to predict response to oral mexiletine.[24] If the pain is neuropathic, transient pain relief may occur, lasting for several hours.[24] One study of a small number of patients reported pain relief lasting days to weeks after a lidocaine infusion.[24] Electrocardiogram and blood pressure monitoring are required during continuous infusion of lidocaine, and resusci-tative equipment must be readily accessible.[24]
Contraindications to therapy are hyper-sensitivity to amide-type local anesthetics, Adams-Strokes syndrome, and high-grade heart block.[24] Adverse effects are dosage related and transient. They include paresthesias of the fingers, abnormal taste, tinnitus, blurred vision, drowsiness, and dysarthria.[24] Higher dosages of lidocaine may cause cardiac arrhythmias and seizures. If the patient experiences drowsiness or dysarthria, the infusion should be discontinued immediately.[24] To administer lidocaine intravenously, a dose of 5 mg/kg of body weight should be infused over 30-45 minutes.[24, 41]

Continuous subcutaneous lidocaine infusion may be useful for the management of neuro-pathic pain states. Such use should be under the direction of a pain management specialist."

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Now, I can't tell you how many times I have asked neuros, pain management docs, everybody who wears a white coat, I have asked the following:

"Why can't they just take an injection of Lidocaine and stick it where it hurts (like with Alan, it's between certain toes of each foot, and it drives HIM CRAZY, SOMETIMES") Well, you should see the look the docs give me, a look like "what is she nuts, or something??"

And now I hear about something called a lidocaine infusion. You know, I wonder if they can mix it in with his IVIG, I mean, once they start doing it???

Interesting stuff.

Mel