INDIANAPOLIS – It’s a shooting pain that
radiates from the lower back, the thigh and below the knee and leaves many
often unable to go about life’s routine activities.
It’s
called sciatica – a common yet painful
spinal condition – and physicians at Franciscan St. Francis Health are participating
in a Phase II clinical trial designed to see if a product will bring relief
for qualifying participants. The
treatment is a non-surgical, non-steroid injection for sciatica-related leg and
back pain.
 |
| DR. ROBERT PRINCE |
”Although sciatica pain
usually gets better on its own after a few weeks, for some people the pain
continues, or even gets worse, which can take a major toll on your activity
level,” said principal investigator Robert Prince, MD, pain expert for Franciscan
Physician Network Spine Specialists.
The first patient in
Indiana – and the fourth in the world – recently was enrolled in the research
study at Franciscan St. Francis-Indianapolis. Performed as an outpatient procedure, the drug is
injected into the epidural space as an extended release treatment.
To be considered for the study, patients must at a minimum:
·
be over 18 years
of age
·
experience
primarily leg pain (can also have back pain)
·
have failed
conservative therapy (bed rest, physical therapy, medication) for at least six
or more weeks
·
no chronic opioid
use
·
be willing to
stop anti-inflammatory drugs for sciatica for 24 hours before the implant and
no use after the implant
For more information about
the Franciscan St. Francis-based study, please call 855-5-STUDY-0
or visit www.LegPainStudy.com.
