Allodynia-like phenomena after intrathecal injection of local anesthetics were observed in five patients who had no evidence of neurological disorder before anesthesia. Allodynia was defined as a pain due to a stimulus that does not normally provoke pain. The frequency of allodynia after spinal blockade was 5/390 cases in our experiences. Symptoms were alleviated by intravenous administration of subanaesthetic doses of diazepam but not of pentazocine.