Lidocaine Patch in Treating Cancer Patients With Neuropathic Pain After Surgery

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Underwent surgical procedure for cancer diagnosis or treatment * Experiencing persistent pain for at least 1 month * Pain must have neuropathic features (e.g., burning, shooting, stabbing, tingling, or pain from light touch) * Anatomically related to the surgical site and compatible with nerve injury * Pain rating of at least 4 out of 10 on the pain scale * No pain of multiple etiologies at the proposed treatment site (e.g., pain of neuropathic and muscular or skeletal origin) * Painful area must be no larger than can be covered by 3 lidocaine patches\* NOTE: \*Each patch size is 5.5 x 4 inches * No skin disease, breakdown, infection, or extreme thinning at the site of pain * No skin or soft tissue malignancy in the painful area PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Performance status * Not specified Life expectancy * At least 6 months Hematopoietic * Not specified Hepatic * AST ≤ 2 times upper limit of normal Renal * Not specified Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * Able to understand and complete questionnaires * No recent history of or concurrent drug or alcohol abuse * No mental or psychiatric condition that would preclude giving informed consent * No history of allergic reaction or intolerance to lidocaine or other amide local anesthetics (e.g., bupivacaine) PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * Not specified Chemotherapy * No prior neurotoxic chemotherapy\* with pain in the same area as postsurgical neuropathic pain, except for pain that was present before neurotoxic chemotherapy administration * No concurrent neurotoxic chemotherapy\* NOTE: \*Including taxanes (e.g., paclitaxel or docetaxel), platinum-based compounds (e.g., cisplatin or carboplatin), or vinca alkaloids (e.g., vincristine or vinblastine) Endocrine therapy * More than 7 days since prior topical corticosteroids to the painful area * No new corticosteroids may be initiated during study participation Radiotherapy * No concurrent radiotherapy to the painful area Surgery * See Disease Characteristics Other * More than 7 days since other prior topical medications to the painful area (including capsaicin) * No change in current analgesic regimen within the past 10 days * No new analgesic or adjuvant drugs (e.g., antidepressants, anticonvulsants, or anxiolytics) may be initiated during study participation * Concurrent stable doses of nonopioid, opioid, and adjuvant analgesic drugs are allowed (including antidepressants or anticonvulsants) * No concurrent class I antiarrhythmic drugs (e.g., tocainide and mexiletine) * Concurrent skin lubricants and sunscreen are allowed provided they are not heavily applied