LIDOCAINE NOSE SPRAY
Alternative Treatments for Facial Neuralgias

Disclaimer.

Anecdotal information

This is unofficial and anecdotal information.

It has been suggested that a lidocaine nose spray could be used to alleviate some of the pain in some cases of TN. It seems that it may be most effective in cases of atypical TN. The pain-relieving effect usually wears off quite quickly, and it seems that the treatment may become less effective if used repeatedly. No information on the effects of possible long-term usage is available.
 

Positive Experiences
	I have suffered from chronic facial pain, teeth pain and jaw pain and fibromyalgia and myofacial pain syndromes for 10 years for which I have had many dental treatments and full orthodontic braces for 2 years as an adult.  I had to pay cash for these treatments since they were not covered by insurance and all of these treatments have failed! The only pain treatment ever offered to me by a medical doctor specifically for treating chronic facial pain was lidocaine sprayed into the nose.  He prescribed 4% Lidocaine topical solution and told me to pour it into an empty allergy medication nasal spray bottle and spray the lidocaine into each nostril.  This does have a pain relieving affect on the facial and teeth pain but it is only for a very short time (usually 2 hours tops).  The doctor who prescribed this treatment was the rheumatologist that diagnosed me with fibromyalgia. No other doctors I have seen have ever heard of such treatment with the lidocaine.  I had to explain it to them and then they were willing to give me a refill!    I hope my story on the lidocaine treatment is of some help.  Sometimes using the lidocaine is the only way I can get through the day at work when I have severe head/face pain. Since it does not have the side effects that narcotic pain killers have I can remain alert and still function when I use the lidocaine treatment.
Negative Experiences
	None