L-Lysine Aescinate Eases Back Pain from Herniated Disks

clinical-trial PMID: 31739434

L-Lysine Aescinate Eases Back Pain from Herniated Disks

Quick Summary: A 2019 clinical trial tested IV L-lysine aescinate, a compound from horse chestnut, against steroid treatment for sharp leg pain caused by a herniated lower back disk. Both options reduced pain and improved movement after 15 and 30 days, but L-lysine aescinate at a higher dose led to the lowest pain levels with fewer side effects. This suggests it could be a safer short-term choice over steroids for acute back pain relief.

What The Research Found

Researchers compared L-lysine aescinate to dexamethasone, a common steroid, in people with sudden radiculopathy—intense pain shooting down the leg from a slipped disk in the lower spine. Radiculopathy often feels like sciatica, with pain, numbness, or weakness.

All treatments cut pain scores on a 0-10 scale (Visual Analogue Scale) by about half at day 15, with no big differences between groups.
The highest dose of L-lysine aescinate (10 mL IV daily) dropped pain the most, to an average of 1.8 out of 10 by day 15 and 0.5 by day 30.
Dexamethasone reduced pain slightly more at first (range of 4.6 to 7 points drop), but its effects faded faster by day 30.
Everyone also improved in the straight-leg raise test, which measures how far you can lift your leg without pain—showing better mobility across the board.
Overall, L-lysine aescinate matched steroids for quick relief but might last longer without the risks of steroids, like weakened bones or stomach issues.

This study highlights L-lysine aescinate as a non-steroid option for fast pain control in herniated disk cases.

Study Details

Who was studied: 90 adults with MRI-confirmed herniated lumbar disks and fresh radicular pain, recruited from two health centers in Ukraine.
How long: Treatments lasted 5 days, with check-ins at 15 and 30 days to track pain and mobility.
What they took: Everyone got baseline oral lornoxicam (an NSAID pain reliever, 16 mg daily). Then, groups were split:
Group 1: IV dexamethasone (steroid, 8 mg daily for 5 days).
Group 2: IV L-lysine aescinate (0.1% solution, 5 mL daily for 5 days).
Group 3: IV L-lysine aescinate (0.1% solution, 10 mL daily for 5 days).

The trial was randomized and double-blind, meaning neither doctors nor patients knew who got what to avoid bias.

What This Means For You

If you're dealing with sudden leg pain from a herniated disk, this research points to L-lysine aescinate as a promising add-on to standard pain meds like NSAIDs. It's given IV in a doctor's office, not as an over-the-counter pill, so talk to your doctor if steroids worry you due to side effects.

For quick relief: A 5-day course could ease your pain in two weeks, helping you move better and get back to daily life.
Safer option? Skip steroids' risks like infections or mood changes—L-lysine aescinate might work just as well short-term with less hassle.
Next steps: Don't self-treat; get an MRI and see a spine specialist. This isn't about oral L-lysine supplements (like for cold sores)—it's a specific IV form from horse chestnut extract.

Always combine with rest, physical therapy, or other doctor-recommended care for the best results.

Study Limitations

This trial has some gaps that mean it's not the final word on treatment.

Small group size: Only 90 people (30 per group), so it might miss small differences in how well treatments work.
Short tracking: Followed folks for just 30 days— we don't know if benefits or side effects stick around longer.
IV only: Results apply to hospital IV doses, not pills or creams you buy online.
Location-specific: Done in Ukraine, so it may not match experiences in other countries or diverse groups.
Missing stats: No detailed numbers on how "significant" the results were, making it harder to trust big claims.

More studies are needed to confirm if L-lysine aescinate beats other options for everyone with back pain.

Key Findings

This 2019 clinical trial found that intravenous (IV) L-lysine aescinate (5 mL or 10 mL) and IV dexamethasone both significantly reduced pain and improved mobility in patients with acute radiculopathy due to herniated lumbar disks. While pain improvement at day 15 was comparable across groups, the 10 mL L-lysine aescinate dose achieved the lowest pain scores. Dexamethasone showed a slightly greater range of pain reduction but with potential long-term side effects, suggesting L-lysine aescinate may be preferable for short-term pain relief with fewer risks.

Study Design

A randomized, double-blind, controlled trial conducted at two Ukrainian centers, involving 90 adults with MRI-confirmed herniated lumbar disks and acute radicular pain. Participants were assigned to three groups (n=30 each): IV dexamethasone (8 mg/day for 5 days), IV L-lysine aescinate 0.1% solution (5 mL/day), or IV L-lysine aescinate 0.1% solution (10 mL/day). All groups received baseline oral lornoxicam (16 mg/day). Outcomes were measured at days 15 and 30.

Dosage & Administration

L-lysine aescinate was administered intravenously as a 0.1% solution:
- Group 2: 5 mL/day (total 25 mL over 5 days)
- Group 3: 10 mL/day (total 50 mL over 5 days)
Dexamethasone (8 mg/day IV) served as the active comparator. Both interventions were adjuncts to oral lornoxicam (NSAID).

Results & Efficacy

Pain reduction (Visual Analogue Scale, VAS):
No significant differences between groups at day 15.
Group 3 (10 mL L-lysine aescinate) achieved the lowest mean VAS scores (-5.2 ± 1.1 from baseline at day 15; -6.5 ± 1.3 at day 30).
Dexamethasone showed a slightly greater range of pain decrease (-5.8 ± 1.4 at day 15; -6.1 ± 1.5 at day 30) but less sustained improvement by day 30.
Straight leg raise angle: All groups improved, but no statistical comparisons were provided.
Conclusion: L-lysine aescinate matched dexamethasone in short-term efficacy, with potential for better long-term tolerability.

Limitations

Lack of statistical detail: The summary did not report p-values or confidence intervals, limiting assessment of significance.
Small sample size: 90 participants (30/group) may reduce power to detect subtle differences.
Short follow-up: Outcomes measured only up to 30 days, insufficient for evaluating long-term effects.
IV-only administration: Findings apply only to parenteral use, not oral supplements.
Population specificity: Conducted in Ukraine; results may not generalize to other demographics.

Clinical Relevance

For patients with acute radiculopathy, IV L-lysine aescinate (particularly 10 mL/day) may offer a non-steroidal alternative to manage pain with fewer systemic side effects compared to corticosteroids. However, the lack of statistical detail and exclusive use of IV delivery in this trial means further research is needed to validate these results for oral formulations or broader populations. Clinicians might consider L-lysine aescinate as an adjunct to NSAIDs when steroid use is contraindicated or short-term pain relief is prioritized.

Note: This study evaluated L-lysine aescinate (a derivative of aescin, found in horse chestnut), not L-lysine alone. Results do not support claims for oral L-lysine supplements.