health
rhabdomyolosis recurring. If the
muscles aren’t given enough time to
heal and rebuild, they can fall apart
again. The doctor told me, by the one
month mark, I should have 30% of the
strength back and within 3-6 months
the muscles should regain 100% of
their original strength.
How do you feel now?
I feel ok, but have not attempted any
serious arm exercises since.
What precautions are you taking to
avoid this happening again?
I’m focusing more on cardio rather
than singling out individual muscles.
But honestly, I started a new job 5
days after I was released from the
hospital and have been juggling the
balance of work and being a mom
to 3 kids. Unfortunately, I haven’t
made enough time to work-out as I
would like.
Any other thoughts?
My main advice would be to drop your
ego at the door and not be afraid to
stop a workout mid-way if you sense
something doesn’t feel right.
Rhabdomyolosis is a scary
thing and can very easily happen
to ANYONE. I have no ego when it
comes to working out and I’m the
first to put my hand up and ask for a
modified workout if I need it, and it
still happened to me. I didn’t know the
signs, and honestly, even if I did and
stopped my workout at that point, it
would have been too late.
The moment I felt I was just
“dropping” from the bar and couldn’t
do the slow release, that was the sign
my muscles had been injured. It was
not painful and not an identifiable
moment like with other injuries. And
I was able to continue my work-out
after that!
The thing is, I don’t know what I
would have done differently on that
day. I had been working out for almost
8 months in that gym and was always
very cautious while doing a modified
version of what everyone else was
doing. What I have learned through
reading about rhabdomyolosis is it’s
not necessarily the movement or the
heavy weights that cause it. It’s the
extreme repetitions of the movement
that usually does it.
Note:
A previous history of rhabdomyolysis
also increases the risk of having
rhabdomyolysis again.
Rhabdomyolysis Signs
and Symptoms
Signs and symptoms may be hard
to pinpoint as they can be subtle,
non-specific and could mimic other
conditions. Symptoms may occur in
one area of the body or affect the whole
body. Additionally, complications may
occur in early and later stages.
The “classic triad” of rhabdomyolysis
symptoms are:
• muscle pain
• muscle weakness
dark coloured urine or
decreased urination
Other symptoms may include:
• fatigue
• soreness
• bruising
• a fever
• a sense of malaise, or feeling sick
• nausea
• vomiting
• confusion
• agitation
Diagnosis
Blood tests for creatine kinase (a
product of muscle breakdown) and
urine tests for myoglobin (a relative
of hemoglobin that is released
from damaged muscles), can help
diagnose rhabdomyolysis. Additional
tests may be performed to rule
out other problems, confirm the
cause of rhabdomyolysis, or check
for complications.
Treatments
Early diagnosis and treatment of
rhabdomyolysis and its causes are
keys to a successful outcome. You
can expect full recovery with prompt
treatment. Doctors can even reverse
kidney damage.
If you have rhabdomyolysis, you will
be admitted to the hospital to receive
treatment for the cause. Treatment
with intravenous (IV) fluids helps
maintain urine production and prevent
kidney failure.
Most causes of rhabdomyolysis
are reversible.
Final thoughts
If you’re starting a new workout
routine and doing it gradually, the risk
of rhabdomyolysis is extremely low.
It typically only occurs after extreme
exercise, but some other things can
increase your chances of it:
• Being dehydrated
• Exercising while you’re on
medications like ibuprofen or Aleve
• Exercising in the heat.
Tiffany Beeson, MSc
Spring 2020
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