What are lidocaine infiltrations?
Lidocaine is a drug whose action is to block an inflammatory process. Therefore, it has an analgesic effect and, unlike other similar active substances, its effects are felt quickly (in about 20 minutes) and last longer. Lidocaine acts directly on neurons by blocking the transmission of the painful stimulus and once used it is processed by the kidneys and eliminated through the urine.
Why is it performed?
Lidocaine is a substance that is administered mainly for anesthetic or antiarrhythmic purposes.
It is mainly used through infiltrations in the soft tissues to treat a particularly acute episode of bursitis, epicondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis and acute gout and post-traumatic osteoarthritis, but is also used intravenously in the prevention of cardiac diseases such as myocardial infarction. Infiltrations of this substance are also performed during minimally invasive operations, both dental (e.g. prior to extraction or filling) and aesthetic (e.g. filler or collagen injections). Finally, it can also be used for women during childbirth to reduce the pain of contractions.
An acute episode of rheumatoid arthritis may require lidocaine.
What does it consist of?
Lidocaine infiltration is often associated with other active ingredients and is injected intravenously or under the skin, depending on the area to be treated. When infiltrated intravenously, the treatment lasts approximately 1 to 1.5 hours, during which time the specialist will keep the heart rate and blood pressure under control to avoid problems. Another use of this drug is, in fact, for arrhythmias.
Preparation for lidocaine infiltrations
Before undergoing lidocaine treatment you should inform your specialist if you have any particular disease, especially if it affects the kidneys, heart, liver, or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. No specific preparations are required before performing lidocaine infiltration. All that needs to be done is to disinfect the skin and use sterile instruments.
Postoperative recovery
No other special treatment is administered after the treatment. However, it is recommended to be accompanied by another person because the drug may cause drowsiness. It is also not recommended to take any other medication without consulting your doctor, as interactions with various side effects may occur. If the latter take the form of swelling, breathing problems, edema, spasms or the like, you should consult your doctor as soon as possible.