Can Stroke Recovery Happen Years Later? The Griffith University Etanercept Trial Answers

If you caught my recent video about UCLA’s discovery of the first stroke rehabilitation drug that rebuilds brain connections in mice, you know the incredible excitement it generated.

If you missed it, the link is in the description below. It’s definitely worth a watch.

Because of the huge response and the many messages from stroke survivors asking for more real recovery options, I wanted to take a deeper look at another breakthrough:

👉 The Griffith University study on using a drug called etanercept to help stroke survivors, not just weeks after a stroke, but even years later.

And trust me, the results are eye-opening.

Today, I’ll walk you through what the study found, how it was set up, what it means for all of us, and where things are heading next.

What Was the Study About?

Researchers at Griffith University in Australia asked a bold and important question:

Can etanercept help stroke survivors still living with chronic pain and movement problems, even many years after their stroke?

They weren’t looking for tiny improvements – they wanted to see fast, meaningful, life-changing results.

This study wasn’t designed for people who have just left the hospital. It was for survivors who had had their strokes at least six months ago, with some having had strokes over 15 years earlier.

Why Did They Do It?

Chronic post-stroke pain, or CPSP, is one of the most devastating outcomes of a stroke.

It’s not just muscle pain. It’s deep nerve pain, constant, burning pain that regular medications like oxycodone or pregabalin often can’t touch.

Researchers now understand that this ongoing pain is often caused by inflammation in the brain, specifically driven by a chemical called TNF-alpha.

Etanercept is a drug that’s been used safely for over 20 years to treat arthritis and autoimmune conditions because it blocks TNF-alpha.

The Griffith team wanted to test whether using etanercept to block brain inflammation could unlock recovery, even years after a stroke.

How Was the Trial Set Up?

This wasn’t a casual or loose experiment – it was a carefully designed, professional clinical trial.

Here’s how it worked:

• 26 stroke survivors participated.
• Ages ranged from 30 to 80 years old.
• Strokes had occurred 6 months to 15 years earlier.
• Every participant had moderate to severe daily pain (rated between 4 and 8 out of 10).
• All had hemiparesis, or weakness on one side of the body.

Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups:

• One group received etanercept injections.
• The other group received placebo injections (just sterile saltwater).

Each person received two treatments:

• One on Day 1
• Another on Day 14

The injections were given near the neck in the perispinal space, allowing the drug to travel quickly to the brain.

What Were They Measuring?

The researchers focused on solid, measurable outcomes:

• Pain levels – using a 0–100 scale combined with a faces pain chart.
• Shoulder movement – measuring how far participants could lift their weaker arm.
• Sensation – testing for improvements in feeling hot, cold, and pressure.
• Cognition and fatigue – although big changes weren’t expected here.

Participants were monitored closely for 30 days after their first injection.

What Happened?

Here’s what the trial revealed:

Pain Relief

• 70% of the participants in the etanercept group experienced significant pain improvements.
• Pain levels dropped by an average of 24 points out of 100.
• 3 out of 10 participants experienced near-complete pain relief — often within 30 to 60 minutes of their first treatment!

Meanwhile, the placebo group showed almost no change.

Mobility Gains

• 9 out of 10 participants in the etanercept group regained more shoulder movement.
• 6 regained at least 60 degrees of motion.
• 3 participants fully regained 180 degrees — meaning full overhead shoulder motion.

Sensory Improvements

• Many participants began to feel heat, cold, and pressure better on their affected side — a strong sign that nerve function was returning.

Side Effects

• Only one major side effect was reported: one participant developed shingles and had to withdraw from the study.
• No other serious adverse events were recorded.

What Does It Mean?

If these results hold up in larger, longer studies:

• Stroke survivors could have a real option for reducing chronic pain and restoring lost movement.
• It could dramatically lower reliance on heavy opioid medications.
• Most excitingly, it shows that the brain may still be capable of healing years after a stroke — if inflammation is correctly targeted.

However, it’s important to remember:
This was a small trial.
Etanercept is not yet officially approved for stroke recovery.
And the treatment doesn’t work for everyone.

But it’s a huge, hopeful step forward.

A Word About Dr. Tobinick

It’s important to acknowledge someone who helped make all this possible: Dr. Edward Tobinick.

Dr. Tobinick was the first to use perispinal etanercept for stroke survivors back in the early 2000s.

He was featured on 60 Minutes Australia in 2011, showing stunning recoveries that few thought were possible.

Despite facing skepticism, lack of pharmaceutical company support, and high treatment costs,
Dr. Tobinick kept pushing forward.
Without his work, many stroke survivors wouldn’t even know this therapy existed.

You can find the link to that original 60 Minutes interview in the description.

What’s Next?

Because of all the interest from our community,
I’m reaching out to researchers at the Florey Institute in Australia.

They’re currently working on new therapies for stroke recovery, and I’ll update you on:

• Where their research stands
• What new options might become available
• And how close we are to real-world treatments for stroke survivors

Stay tuned, as soon as I hear back, I’ll share everything with you.

Want to Dive Deeper?

If you’d like to read the full Griffith University study,
the link is in the description.

The brilliant researchers behind this study include:

• Dr. Stephen J. Ralph
• Dr. Andrew Weissenberger
• Dr. Ventzislav Bonev
• Dr. Adrienne Goodman-Jones,
  and others from Griffith University and partner institutions.

They deserve real recognition for pushing this research forward.

Final Thoughts

If you found this article helpful,
Please subscribe, comment, and share this post with someone who might need hope today.

And if you’re listening on Spotify or Apple Podcasts,
please leave a review. It helps more stroke survivors find this channel and this growing community.