Concerns over the safety of some Cox-2 inhibitor painkillers have left some arthritis sufferers looking for alternatives. A pain patch could be an answer for people suffering arthritic knee pain, researchers say.

A clinical trial showed the Lidoderm patch was as effective as Celebrex in treating arthritic knee pain, Staying Healthy's Stacia Matthews reported Thursday.

In the study, subjects were given either a patch on their knee once a day or 200 milligrams of Celebrex. Both seemed to work about equally well, researchers said.

"I'm encouraged by these findings, as currently there is a critical need for new approaches to manage this type of pain," study investigator Dr. Alan Kivitz said.

The patch became available in the U.S. in 1999 for treatment of nerve-damage pain caused by shingles. People interested in the patch should talk with their doctors to see if it is an appropriate option for them.