I have not had regular Lidocaine infusions, but I did have Lidocaine in my IV, when my gallbladder was removed. It was WONDERFUL... I saw a pain management doctor not long after that who was going to try me on this, probably as Melody said, to see if I was a candidate for Mexiletine.

My Neurologist said "ABSOLUTELY NOT." I cannot recall why he was so definite about this..

I do get trigger point injections with Lidocaine and a little Cortisone, which helps in the places that hurt. It is not permanent, but in my case has been a Godsend at times. It varies on how long it lasts. I was leary at first about having this, because an old doc injected my back with this once, and it hurt like the devil-probably because the needle was huge. This doc uses a very fine needle and deadens as he begins. You hardly know you are being stuck... He also does the epidural, which helped considerably with the lower back.

Cathie