Give Your Neck a Break from Constant Aches
If you’re one of the millions of people suffering from chronic neck pain, you know just how debilitating it can be. Stiffness and soreness in your neck can make it difficult to get through your daily activities. And finding a treatment that actually provides relief can seem impossible.
Lidocaine patches may offer the pain-relief you’ve been searching for. Read on to learn more about how these medicated patches can take the edge off your neck pain.
What is Lidocaine and How Does it Work?
Lidocaine is a medication that works as a local anesthetic. Local anesthetics work by temporarily numbing or “blocking” pain signals to the brain from a specific area of the body.
Lidocaine is available in a number of different formulations, including gels, creams, injectables, and patches. The lidocaine patch provides continuous delivery of lidocaine directly through the skin to the painful area for up to 12 hours.
The lidocaine in the adhesive patch diffuses from the patch, through the skin and reaches nearby pain receptors and nerve fibers. This helps block pain signals from that area so they are not perceived by the brain.
Lidocaine patches allow you to apply pain-relieving medication right where you need it most – at the source of the pain. And one patch can provide hours of localized relief.
Using Lidocaine Patches for Neck Pain
Lidocaine patches have been shown in studies to be effective for treating various types of pain, including neck pain.
In one study, a 5% lidocaine patch was applied to painful areas on the head, neck, trunk and extremities of patients. It was found to significantly reduce pain intensity compared to placebo.
Another study specifically looked at lidocaine patches for relieving myofascial neck pain. Myofascial pain is muscle pain caused by trigger points or muscle knots.
The lidocaine patch resulted in reduced pain and tenderness compared to placebo when applied to areas of neck pain.
A separate double-blind, placebo-controlled study found that a lidocaine 4% patch was superior to placebo in reducing pain, tenderness, and disability in patients with myofascial pain syndrome in the neck.
Considering Lidocaine Patches For Neck Pain Relief? Get The Facts From the Pros at Kaly.
How to Apply Lidocaine Patches for Neck Pain Relief
If you want to try lidocaine patches for relieving your neck pain, here are some tips on usage:
| Step | Instruction |
| 1 | Clean and thoroughly dry the area where you will apply the patch. Do not apply it over skin that is red, irritated or has cuts or scrapes. |
| 2 | Apply the patch to the skin overlying the most painful area. For neck pain, this would be on the area of the neck where you feel muscle tightness or pain. |
| 3 | Make sure the area is free of excessive hair. Hair may prevent the patch from sticking. |
| 4 | If needed, cut patches to fit smaller areas, like the back of the neck. |
| 5 | Apply the patch just before an activity that usually aggravates your pain. |
| 6 | Leave the patch on for up to 12 hours, then remove it for 12 hours before applying a new patch. |
| 7 | Do not apply heat, such as a heating pad, to the area when using lidocaine patches. Heat can increase absorption leading to risk of high doses. |
Where to Apply Lidocaine Patches for Neck Pain
Since lidocaine patches work by numbing the localized area where they are applied, proper placement is important.
For neck pain, the best locations are areas on the back or side of the neck where you feel muscle tightness, knots, or pain. This allows the lidocaine to diffuse through the skin right at the trigger points contributing to your discomfort.
Some common placement spots for neck pain relief include:
- Along the upper trapezius muscle running from the base of the neck out toward the shoulders
- Along the levator scapulae muscles on the back of the neck near the vertebrae
- Over painful trigger points in the sternocleidomastoid muscles on the side of the neck
- On the suboccipital muscles at the base of the skull
- Over the facet joints in the cervical spine
Experiment with exact placement to find where the patch relieves your pain most effectively. Just avoid placing patches over the front of the throat.
Benefits and Potential Side Effects of Lidocaine
Lidocaine patches offer localized pain relief by numbing the area where applied, but also have some potential side effects to be aware of. This table summarizes the main benefits lidocaine patches provide for treating neck pain as well as the possible adverse effects that may occur.
| Benefits | Potential Side Effects |
| Provides localized numbness and pain relief at the application site for several hours | Skin irritation such as redness, rash, blisters or swelling at the application site |
| Non-opioid pain relief option that reduces need for oral pain medication and associated side effects | Headache |
| Easy to use transdermal patch for sustained lidocaine delivery compared to gels or creams | Dizziness |
| May be used alone or alongside other treatments like massage, physical therapy, or chiropractic care | Sleepiness |
| Relatively fast acting without need for absorption through the digestive tract | Numbness or tingling at patch location |
| Can target neck pain caused by pinched nerves or muscle knots which many pain medications do not effectively treat | |
| Temporarily reduces severity and frequency of neck pain episodes | |
| Allows patients to apply pain relief directly where they need it |
Ask an Expert To Weigh Lidocaine Patch Benefits Against Potential Risks. Sign Up for Kaly Today!
Lidocaine Patch vs. Cream for Neck Pain
Both lidocaine patches and lidocaine creams can provide topical pain relief, but there are some differences:
- Lidocaine patches release the medication slowly for continuous effect for up to 12 hours per patch, providing long-lasting relief and staying in place. They may cause more skin irritation and are more suitable for localized pain.
- Lidocaine creams are rubbed directly on the skin and may work more quickly, but they only provide brief pain relief and need reapplication as the effects wear off. They can spread easily to cover wide surface areas and are less irritating for most users. They are suitable for specific painful points anywhere around the neck
Using Heat Therapy With Lidocaine Patches
Both heat therapy and lidocaine patches can relieve neck pain. And combining both may provide even greater relief.
Heat helps relieve pain by:
- Increasing blood flow to bring oxygen and nutrients to neck tissues
- Reducing muscle spasms and relaxing tight neck muscles
- Slowing nerve impulses in tissues, disrupting pain signals
Meanwhile, lidocaine patches numb the localized area by blocking sodium channels required for transmitting pain signals. Applying heat may allow more rapid absorption of the lidocaine through the skin so effects occur faster.
However, avoid direct heat like heating pads on skin with lidocaine patches. The increased absorption could potentially lead to lidocaine overdose. Warm compresses or wraps would be safest if using heat together with a lidocaine patch for neck pain.
Relieve Your Neck Pain with Lidocaine Patches
Chronic neck pain can make it difficult to enjoy your normal everyday activities. You may constantly be distracted by soreness and stiffness in your neck. Or have trouble fully focusing at work because of persistent aches.
Lidocaine patches allow you to temporarily mute these nagging neck pains. So you can get back to doing what you love without constant discomfort.
Whether it’s playing with your kids, exercising, or working without neck distractions, lidocaine patches offer hope. Talk to your healthcare provider to see if lidocaine is right for you.
There’s no need to let neck pain control your life. Get proactive treatment that provides real relief when you need it most.
Visit Kaly Today for Help with Neck Pain
At Kaly, we understand how much chronic neck pain can disrupt and limit your life. We offer convenient virtual care options to assess your neck pain and provide customized treatment plans.
Our team of compassionate healthcare professionals is ready to help diagnose the source of your neck problems. And recommend proven options like lidocaine patches to finally tame your pain.
Don’t wait any longer to start living your best life. Sign up for Kaly today to get personalized care and treatment for conquering neck pain.