Final answer:
Lidocaine blocks voltage-gated sodium channels to numb the area and provide pain relief.
Step-by-step explanation:
Lidocaine is a local anesthetic that blocks voltage-gated sodium channels in nerve cells. When these channels are blocked, the nerve cells are unable to transmit pain signals to the brain, resulting in numbness and pain relief. Lidocaine with epinephrine, also known as adrenaline, is commonly used in spinal anesthesia to prolong the effects of lidocaine.