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Local Anesthetic

Trigger Point Injections vs Lidocaine Patch for Myofascial Pain

Phase 4
Waitlist Available
Led By Jonathan Lee, MD
Research Sponsored by University of California, Irvine
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial
Must have
18 years or older
Be older than 18 years old
Must not have
Midline spinal tenderness
Altered or deemed incapable of making informed consent
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up from initiation of the study up to the point the patient is discharged from the emergency department
Awards & highlights
No Placebo-Only Group
All Individual Drugs Already Approved
Pivotal Trial
Drug Has Already Been Approved

Summary

This trial is testing two methods to relieve muscle pain in patients with back and neck pain in the Emergency Department. One method uses injections of a numbing medicine called lidocaine directly into painful muscle spots, while the other uses patches that release lidocaine through the skin. Both aim to reduce pain by numbing the affected area. Lidocaine is a well-recognized medium-acting local anesthetic used for managing both acute and chronic pain in various medical settings.

Who is the study for?
This trial is for adults with myofascial pain in the neck or back, identified by a specific tender spot that recreates their pain when pressed. It's not for those with spinal tenderness, nerve root pain symptoms (radiculopathy), pregnant individuals, people allergic to lidocaine, those unable to consent, or if there's infection/skin issues at the pain site.
What is being tested?
The study compares two treatments for easing myofascial back and neck pain in emergency settings: one group receives trigger point injections with 1% lidocaine directly into painful spots; another gets patches containing 5% lidocaine applied on the skin over these areas.
What are the potential side effects?
Possible side effects include discomfort at injection sites for those getting injections and skin irritation where patches are applied. Lidocaine can sometimes cause numbness of the area, tingling sensations, dizziness or an allergic reaction.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible if you check “Yes” for the criteria below
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I am 18 years old or older.

Exclusion Criteria

You may be eligible for the trial if you check “No” for criteria below:
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I have pain in the middle of my spine.
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I am capable of understanding and consenting to participate.
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I have symptoms caused by a pinched nerve in my spine.
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I have signs of infection or skin issues over a specific area.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~0 minutes and 20-minutes post- treatment, and every 30-60 minutes thereafter until discharge or admission and we will give the patient a hand out so that they can record their pain scores for up to 5 days after their emergency department visit.
This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and 0 minutes and 20-minutes post- treatment, and every 30-60 minutes thereafter until discharge or admission and we will give the patient a hand out so that they can record their pain scores for up to 5 days after their emergency department visit. for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.
Primary study objectives
absolute change in Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) of pain
Secondary study objectives
disposition times
satisfaction/experience surveys regarding their treatment
use of other medications for treatment of pain including medications administered

Awards & Highlights

No Placebo-Only Group
All patients enrolled in this study will receive some form of active treatment.
All Individual Drugs Already Approved
Therapies where all constituent drugs have already been approved are likely to have better-understood side effect profiles.
Pivotal Trial
The final step before approval, pivotal trials feature drugs that have already shown basic safety & efficacy.
Drug Has Already Been Approved
The FDA has already approved this drug, and is just seeking more data.

Trial Design

2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: Trigger point with 1% LidocaineExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
The physician will withdraw 1cc of 1% lidocaine in a 25g needle, sterilely prep the field with a Chloraprep applicator, use index, and middle finger to squeeze the borders of the trigger point and raise the central aspect of the trigger point, insert the needle at 90-degree angle up to 5/8' deep, inject 1cc of the 1% lidocaine after ensuring needle is not in a blood vessel, removing the needle, and then covering the insertion site with a sterile bandage.
Group II: 5% Lidocaine PatchActive Control1 Intervention
5% lidocaine patch will be placed at the point of maximal tenderness upon palpation. Location of placement will be described and instructed by physician and placed by nursing staff.

Research Highlights

Information in this section is not a recommendation. We encourage patients to speak with their healthcare team when evaluating any treatment decision.
Mechanism Of Action
Side Effect Profile
Prior Approvals
Other Research
Common treatments for Myofascial Pain Syndrome, such as trigger point injections with 1% lidocaine, work by providing localized pain relief through the inhibition of nerve signal transmission. Lidocaine blocks sodium channels on nerve cells, preventing the propagation of pain signals. This mechanism is particularly important for MPS patients as it directly targets the hyperactive nerve signals that cause muscle pain and tenderness, offering immediate and effective pain relief.
Antihyperalgesic effect of tetrodotoxin in rat models of persistent muscle pain.Differential effects of low dose lidocaine on C-fiber classes in humans.Long-term effect of sciatic nerve block with slow-release lidocaine in a rat model of postoperative pain.

Find a Location

Who is running the clinical trial?

University of California, IrvineLead Sponsor
566 Previous Clinical Trials
1,932,938 Total Patients Enrolled
Jonathan Lee, MDPrincipal InvestigatorUCI Department of Emergency Medicine

Media Library

Lidocaine patch 5% (Local Anesthetic) Clinical Trial Eligibility Overview. Trial Name: NCT05151510 — Phase 4
Myofascial Pain Syndrome Research Study Groups: 5% Lidocaine Patch, Trigger point with 1% Lidocaine
Myofascial Pain Syndrome Clinical Trial 2023: Lidocaine patch 5% Highlights & Side Effects. Trial Name: NCT05151510 — Phase 4
Lidocaine patch 5% (Local Anesthetic) 2023 Treatment Timeline for Medical Study. Trial Name: NCT05151510 — Phase 4
Myofascial Pain Syndrome Patient Testimony for trial: Trial Name: NCT05151510 — Phase 4
~27 spots leftby Dec 2025