Lidocaine Infusions for Chronic Pain in Children

Reports have shown that intravenous lidocaine infusions have been effective in relieving chronic pain that has been resistant to other therapies, with minimal side effects. The investigators would like to determine whether severity of pain and degree of chronic-pain related disability could be reduced with lidocaine infusion in children and to understand whether the dose of lidocaine correlates with blood levels in the same manner as it does in adults. The investigators will recruit 24 patients aged 8-18 with chronic pain that has not been relieved by standard therapies. Each patient will receive a lidocaine infusion over 2 hours. Blood will be drawn for lidocaine concentration before the beginning of the infusion, immediately after and 0.5, 2 and 4 hours after. Severity of pain and degree of disability will be recorded using a questionnaire measuring pain scores, sleep disruption, social disruption, physical abilities and school attendance before the infusion, weekly for 2 weeks and then 4 weeks after. This study will help the investigators better understand the effectiveness and safety of intravenous lidocaine for chronic pain in children.