An intravenous lidocaine infusion is a specialist treatment used to help manage chronic or widespread nerve-related pain, particularly when symptoms are difficult to control with standard medications. At Wessex Pain Clinic, our consultant pain specialists provide intravenous lidocaine infusions for patients across Hampshire, Sussex, Surrey, Dorset, Berkshire, Wiltshire and the South of England, with clinics in Winchester, Southampton, Basingstoke and Chichester.
Lidocaine works by blocking sodium channels in nerves, which are involved in the transmission of pain signals. When pain pathways become sensitised after nerve injury, inflammation, or long-term pain conditions, these signals can become exaggerated or continuous.
Administering lidocaine intravenously (through a drip into a vein) allows it to act throughout the nervous system to help âresetâ or reduce the abnormal pain sensitivity. The effect is systemic rather than local, meaning it may benefit pain affecting several areas of the body.
The infusion does not numb the body or cause drowsiness in most people, but instead works by stabilising nerve function.
The infusion is performed as a day-case procedure in a monitored clinical setting. You will be connected to standard monitoring equipment (blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen levels) throughout the infusion. The lidocaine is given slowly via a cannula that is placed in a vein in your arm, usually over 30â60 minutes.
You will go home the same day once fully recovered.
Driving advice: You should not drive for the rest of the day following an intravenous lidocaine infusion. Please arrange for someone to collect you.
At Wessex Pain Clinic we find that the best results come from combining medical treatments with active rehabilitation. Procedures are often most effective when paired with physiotherapy, movement-based exercise, and â where appropriate â psychological support. This comprehensive approach addresses both the physical and emotional aspects of pain and supports longer-term improvement.
Results vary between individuals and cannot be guaranteed. Your consultant will discuss whether this procedure is appropriate for you.
At Wessex Pain Clinic, we work as a team and meet regularly to discuss complex, treatment resistant or unusual cases. As such you will often receive the expertise of several pain consultants. We believe that we are one of very few pain clinics to offer this. Wessex Pain Clinic provides consultant-led assessment and treatment for acute and chronic pain conditions. Our multidisciplinary team includes Consultant Pain Specialists, Physiotherapists and Psychologists, offering evidence-based interventions alongside rehabilitation and self-management support. We welcome patients from across Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire, Surrey and Sussex, including Winchester, Basingstoke, Southampton, Portsmouth, and Chichester â with both in-clinic appointments and remote consultations available across the wider Wessex region.
Our friendly team is on hand to support you every step of the way. Please get in touch at any time.
