Chronic widespread pain (CWP) is characterized by persistent pain across multiple body regions, often accompanied by fatigue, cognitive difficulties, and psychological distress. Background/Objectives: Affecting approximately 10% of the general population, CWP disproportionately impacts women, individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, immigrants, and those with a family history of chronic pain. Standard treatments, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, exercise, and pharmacotherapy, often provide insufficient relief. This study explores a novel approach to treating treatment-resistant CWP: high-dose subcutaneous lidocaine infusions administered over extended periods. Methods: The research included a retrospective chart review and patient survey to evaluate safety and tolerability. The protocol started with a dose of 10-12 mg/kg of adjusted body weight, increasing by 10-15% per month, with a maximum dose of 2000 mg. Results: The chart review of 27 patients revealed mild to moderate adverse events (AEs) in seven patients, with no severe AEs. A survey of 15 patients indicated a higher incidence of AEs; however, all patients reported that the benefits outweighed the negatives. On average, patients experienced 61% pain relief, lasting 19 days per infusion. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that subcutaneous lidocaine infusions are a well-tolerated treatment for CWP, offering substantial pain relief and improving patients' quality of life.
Keywords: chronic widespread pain; lidocaine; pain management; patient survey.