New treatment for sciatica
The effectiveness to treat sciatica of an existing medication for arthritis and psoriasis is currently being evaluated in clinical trials in Melbourne and Adelaide, Australia.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA, June 20, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The effectiveness to treat sciatica of an existing medication for arthritis and psoriasis is currently being evaluated in clinical trials in Melbourne and Adelaide.

Etanercept (brand name Enbrel) has been prescribed to several hundred thousand patients in Australia and around the world to successfully treat conditions such as arthritis and psoriasis. A clinical trial is now underway to gather further information as to the effectiveness of Etanercept to treat lower back pain caused by disc herniation, commonly referred to as sciatica.

The Pain & Anaesthesia Research Clinic (PARC) in Adelaide and Emeritus Research in Melbourne are currently recruiting patients with sciatica to participate in this clinical trial. The trial medication may provide sufferers with pain relief not achieved by current treatments.

Large well controlled trials have shown that most patients with sciatic pain recover without surgery over a period of two to twelve months after the onset of their pain. Since there is no approved therapy for sciatic pain during the two to twelve month natural recovery period, effective and safe treatments to reduce patients' pain and disability during this recovery period are urgently needed.

Patient participation is crucial to furthering this much needed research.

Patients who participate in the clinical trial will be reimbursed for their time and inconvenience, and travel expenses to and from the research unit will also be reimbursed. Participants will be helping to advance medical research, and their health will be monitored by qualified health professionals.
Sciatica occurs when one of the discs between the bones in the lower back bulges (herniates) and therefore irritates the sciatic nerve, a major nerve that provides sensation to the leg. Disc pressure on the sciatic nerve may often result in irritation, inflammation and significant nerve pain. The pain results in a burning sensation which extends from the lower back down one or both legs.

The Pain & Anaesthesia Research Clinic and Emeritus Research have extensive clinical research expertise and follow the principles of Good Clinical Practice.

The trial has received approval from the Royal Adelaide Hospital and Cabrini Hospital Human Research Ethics Committees.

Patients may be eligible to participate in this clinical trial if they:

* Are aged 18-70
* Have had persistent and significant pain for less than six months
* Do not suffer significant pain from other sources

Press Release Contact Information:

Erin Spence
Rewards For Research
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