Loading...
Treating chronic nonspecific neck pain with oral medications often is ineffective or has adverse effects, and responses to physical therapy or changes in neck posture are unpredictable. In this randomized crossover trial, researchers examined a prescription-only lidocaine patch (ZTLido 1.8%) in 76 adults (mean age, 54) with neck pain of >3 months' duration. Patients with neurological findings, radiculopathy, or structural abnormalities in the neck were excluded.
Patients received a lidocaine patch or placebo daily for 4 weeks; then, after a 1-week washout period, they received the other treatment for 4 weeks. At baseline, median pain scores on a 0 to 10–point scale were 5 for “average pain” and 8 for “worst pain.” For both outcomes, median p…