unexplained high cpk

[moseley7]

I am a 48 year old female.  I take coumadin 7.5 mil daily due to past mini strokes, caused by anticardiolipin antibodies.  I do not have Lupus.  For the last 5 years I have had increased cpk levels varying from 600 to 1400.  In the past no one has been able to indentify why these levels are up.  I did take lipitor 5 years ago for about three months and the doctor stopped it after the elevation of the cpk.  It is still high, with a most recent reading of 709.  A few weeks ago I thought I had the flu.  Every muscle in me was hurting.  I stayed in bed for three days.  I felt a little better and returned to my desk job at work.  Now the muscle pain has come back, especially in my arms, neck and both sides of my groin.  My family doctor wants me to see a rheumatologist again since the cpk is up. The last arthritis doctor I saw said it was probably just a fluke thing that happens in my system, but at that time I wasn't in any pain.  Should I see another rheumatologist?  I've spent so much time and money on tests in the past, so I am at a loss.  

[Enoch Choi, MD]

since your muscle pain is back in so many places and you did have an elevated CPK with these symptoms in the past, it would be a good idea to visit a rheumatologist in a major university system

[moseley7]

Just an update.  I returned to my family doctor and had my CPK repeated again.  It is still high at 737.  But also, my ALT liver enzyme is high (45).  I have an appointment in a few weeks with a rheumatologist in Mephis, TN.   He's the same one who told me last time that he thought I had ideopathic CPK that just stays high for no reason.  I hope I get better answers this time.

[Enoch Choi, MD]

without other symptoms that's reassuring.

perhaps get a second opinion from a different rheumatologist?

[laymoonay]

A related discussion, Very high CPK levels for no reason. was started.

[mohan1214]

A related discussion, how to control the cpk was started.