A method for treating subjects experiencing neuropathic pain is provided. Themethod involves the application of asolid-forming local anesthetic formulation to a skin surface of the subjectexperiencing the neuropathic pain and then maintainingthe formulation on the skin surface for a period of time sufficient to allowitself to transdermally deliver the local anesthetic to thesubject thereby providing relief from the neuropathic pain within about 45minutes.