Sciatica clinical studies may provide a possible treatment option for patients who have not found lasting relief from established medical therapies. Clinical studies are typically conducted to determine the value and effectiveness of new products and procedures before they are approved for the general public.
This dialog will feature information on the pros and cons of taking part in research governing the efficacy of investigative therapies. We will examine the risks of clinical studies, as well as investigate the potential benefits of patient participation.
Purpose of Sciatica Clinical Studies
There are always research studies going on to treat lower back pain, since this condition is an epidemic in the healthcare system. Studies are usually run by a team of doctors and scientists, but are mostly sponsored and controlled by large medical corporations.
The most common form of clinical testing involves pharmaceutical products, since sciatica drugs are a popular choice of doctors and patients alike. Drug treatment is also where the big money resides.
There might also be studies ongoing to determine the safety and efficacy of surgical techniques and hardware, as well as other medical devices and orthotics.
Participating in Sciatica Clinical Research
In order to sign up for a clinical research project, you generally must meet certain criteria. The first is typically geographic location, since you must be close enough to take part in the actual medical interactions. Your age, physical condition, health history and gender might also become criteria used to determine your eligibility for study involvement. Of course, your clinical diagnosis will factor into the mix, as well.
If you do qualify, all study related care and medicine is generally provided free of cost. Additionally, many research projects actually pay their participants for time and expenses. While this money is not likely to be a significant amount, it might range up to a few thousand dollars, depending on the nature of the study and the demands placed on each participant.
Sciatica Clinical Study Experience
Remember, taking part in clinical research might be a risky proposition. The products and services being studied are not time tested and might include inherent health risks. Furthermore, there is a good chance that even if you are accepted for a clinical research project, you might wind up in a control group which does not receive any treatment, or in a placebo group, which does not get the actual product or treatment. These factors can make for disappointing results for many hopeful patients.
Remember too that some corporate studies have prearranged conclusions and the doctors involved are simply looking for participants which will back-up these ready made results. This certainly devalues the scientific worth of a great number of research projects.
While I am all for medical advancement, people who participate in these clinical tests should be fully aware of what they are getting themselves into and have an accurate representation of what they can hope to achieve.
After all, if you are willing to risk your body and very life for science, then you should at least have the potential to achieve marked symptomatic improvement, if not a true and lasting cure.
