Everyone has different pain. I would be thrilled if lidocaine in any form helped. After 20 years 30 epidurals, surgery etc. The only thing that works for me is Percocet. I guess I should have been more specific and said intractable pain is not always helped by over the counter meds. I tend to over react to the idea at 82 years old, have tried everything I know of,that opioids aren't needed. I sometimes say if drs say you don't need opioids it's because they have never had real pain. Your entire life is controlled.