Elevated CPK and muscle aching --- rhabdomyolysis -- 23 year old male

Hi,

About a year ago, I started heavily working out.  I went from not being very physical and active to doing a lot of activity.  I lost about 60 pounds, my blood pressure started lowering, etc. etc.  About a week ago, I went into the hospital for something routine in the ER and they noticed elevated muscular CPK of 1100. Taking time off of exercising this past week, my CPK dropped back down to 87 as of this past Friday.  The doctors believe it was my lack of hydration, which I believe is quite possible, since I don't drink a lot of fluids working out.

Here is my cause for concern: this past wed, about five days after the elevated CPK was discovered, my legs became fairly weak.  Right now, my CPK is back to normal, but my legs and my body muscles (mostly my legs though) still feel quite weak.  The legs feel a bit heavier, tender, and "achy" (almost like I just ran a 5 mile run and its two days afterwards, but I didn't).  The uncomfortableness in my legs is mostly in my theighs, but I also feel it in my arm muscles too, mainly the ones I work out the most (like my triceps).

I know that rhabdomyolysis (they diagnosed me with a minor case of this) can cause muscle aching and cramping, but can it come "delayed"?  My CPK is back to normal, yet the muscle aching has just started.

I went to the doctor today and she is testing for lyme.  I am a hypochondriac and so of course, I am paranoid about things like ALS, etc., even though I know something like that is uncommon in someone who is 23.

Can anyone provide any advice at all?  Possibly to make me feel better?

Regards,

M

[etaoinshrdlu]

I can't guarantee that I had rhabdomyolysis, but the odds are good, due to the fact that I worked out very hard under conditions of elevated body temperature and muscle aches started a couple of days later. My CPK count was normal a week after the aching began, though. With rest, the achiness went away. Unfortunately, a tiny bit of exercise brought it back.

If you're still around and reading this, would you mind letting me know how things went for you? I'm a little worried at the moment.

[paula9002]

You might want to ask your doctor to look into sending you to a neurologist.  I went from doctor to doctor several years ago and finally was sent to a great neurologist who finally sent me for a muscle biopsy.  The symptoms you have do not have to be ALS but depending on what you have it could help you decide how to exercise and there may be some supplements that can help.  My younger brother ended up with both kidneys shut down from rhabdomyolosis which reversed itself when he was bedridden and on dialysis.  He could not go back to that level of exertion ever again.  I was smarter and quit with the exertion when I started seeing dark urine and feeling "whiny" (the pain was not that bad in my muscles, but just made me feel bad).  Bottom line, be proactive and don't let one after another make you feel that it is somehow you (being a hypochondriac) because they cannot hit on the test that will diagnose your problem.  Good luck.

[julieeeee]

I have the same condition. I was 5 years old when I got it. The doctors at Stanford said it was related to my allergies toward pollen. I've never experienced so much pain. I still have it now, however I went to the doctors today, and they will call me tomorrow with the results.

Things that helped me:
A lot of Advil
Heating pads
Lots of rest(with arms above ur head)
Massaging the weak points
and also things to get your mind off it.

[paula9002]

M, how are you doing? have they found anything? maybe an enzyme deficiency? let us know how you are.  take care.

[mlfitness]

I am in the same boat as you! I am a Figure/Fitness model competitor and in June was dx w/Rhabdomyolysis. My CPKs were 30,000 and Liver enzymes were at 2500 and 2000. I am still experiencing a lot of weakness, and fatigue. Some muscle cramping, and a lot of my swelling in legs and upper body has gone down completely. I still have abdominal swelling and tenderness. I have seen a GI, neourologist, and now a nephrologist. The nephrologist stated he does not think I have any kidney damage. But my protein levels are still low which he thinks I am malnorished. and so does my new PCP.

But I am having the same issues and this has been going on since June. I have a lot of other things going on too which I never had hence the rhabdomyolysis. And my levels are still elevated not as bad. But I am wondering why they are still elevated. My nephrologist is getting ultrasound of abdomen and wants me to see nutritionist to see what happens. He did mention I might need a muscle biospy as well.

[lkgarber24]

I was just in the hospital for a week with Rhadomyolosis. My CPK levels were 180,000 at the worst. I am seeing a neurologist tomorrow and I am worried that they are going to do a muscle biopsy. Has anyone experienced that before? If anyone has seen a neurologist for this, what other things have they done for you? I am confused as to how one has to do with the other.

[kruffner]

I had rhabdomyolysis after a spinning class in june 2009.  CK peaked at 50,000.  I was hospitalized for 8 days.  I had extensive damage to my thighs and did have a muscle biopsy done with no findings.  They called it "exercise induced."  I still have many issues with my legs (weakness, muscle spasming, pain) to this date, and it is worsened by activity.  I have not even come close to returning to my baseline since the injury occurred.  I have had many medical problems since including high blood pressure and other muscle related problems.  I had pain immediately after stepping off of the bike, and my legs buckled underneath me and I almost fell to the floor.  I was unable to walk, but me being stubborn did not seek medical treatment for 36 hours post-injury.  I do remember the sensation that I felt like my feet had "fallen asleep" a little bit while I was exercising...  but at the time I didn't think much of it.  Currently, I have been experiencing a lot of tingling in my extremities and have an appointment this week to find out if it is the bulging discs in my neck that is causing it or something else.  

As for the muscle biopsy... YES!  It was very painful.  I had it done under general anesthesia but had a lot of complications afterwards.  My sister said that I had to have a ton of pain medication during recovery and I was not very mobile for a couple of weeks.  I was off of work for almost 3 months total...

Good luck!