This trial is part of a larger, longitudinal study of symptoms that occur in the breast surgical scar area and/or ipsilateral arm following breast cancer surgery. Women who develop pain in the breast scar area or ipsilateral arm will be randomized to a placebo patch or a lidocaine patch that they will wear on a daily basis for 12 weeks. We hypothesize that women who wear the lidocaine patch will report a decrease in pain and decreased interference with function compared to women who wear the placebo patch.
Adult women >18 years who develop neuropathic pain in the breast scar area and/or ipsilateral arm following breast cancer surgery Has a healed incision(s) Has no recurrent disease in the painful area Is able to read, write and understand English
Exclusion Criteria:
Presence of another type of pain that is more severe than the neuropathic pain Use of an opioid analgesic of greater than 60 mg codeine/day Is actively trying to become pregnant Has a medical contraindication to the use of lidocaine Has an allergy to lidocaine Is taking a coanalgesic for neuropathic pain.
