Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for relieving pain at a site in a human or animal in need thereof by administering at a discrete site in a human or animal in need thereof a dose of capsaicin in an amount effective to denervate a discrete site without eliciting an effect outside the discrete location, the dose of capsaicin ranging from 1 ?g to 3000 ?g.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to compositions and methods for relieving pain at a site in a human or animal by administering at a discrete site in a human or animal a dose of capsaicin in an amount effective to denervate the discrete site without eliciting an effect outside the discrete location.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods for attenuating pain associated with a surgical site or an open wound by administration of single doses of a capsaicinoid formulation in proximity to a surgical site or wound opening.

Abstract: This present invention relates to methods for treating or attenuating pain in a patient. Specifically, the invention provides a method for attenuating pain in proximity to the site of an open wound or surgical incision comprising instilling a pharmaceutical composition comprising a capsaicinoid into the wound or incision, allowing the pharmaceutical composition to dwell for a predetermined period of time, and aspirating the wound or incision to remove the pharmaceutical composition. The invention also provides a method for attenuating pain in proximity to a joint comprising intra-articularly injecting a pharmaceutical composition comprising a capsaicinoid into the joint, allowing the pharmaceutical composition to dwell for predetermined period of time, and aspirating the joint to remove the pharmaceutical composition. In certain embodiments of the invention, the capsaicinoid is capsaicin.