Rhabdomyolysis is a serious condition caused by damaged skeletal muscle. It can lead to kidney failure and even death in severe cases. The symptoms of rhabdomyolysis depend on how bad the damage is to your muscles and which ones are affected. If you have any of these symptoms, it may be time to see a doctor:
What is Rhabdomyolysis?
Rhabdomyolysis is the breakdown of muscle fibers. Many different things, including trauma, infection, drugs, or alcohol, can cause it. The condition causes acute kidney failure and death if not treated quickly.
Symptoms include weakness in your arms or legs; dark urine; muscle pain that worsens when you move them; nausea, and vomiting (if you have eaten recently).
If you have these symptoms after an injury or accident, call 911 immediately!
Causes of Rhabdomyolysis
A variety of factors can cause rhabdomyolysis. Some of the most common causes include:
- Excessive exercise. When you exercise, your muscles are stressed and may tear slightly. These small tears in muscle fibers release enzymes into your bloodstream that break down muscle protein so the kidneys can remove it. If you overwork your body too much (by running a marathon or doing an intense workout), these enzymes can start breaking down other parts of your body as well, including heart muscle or brain cells--which is why rhabdomyolysis can lead to serious health issues such as kidney failure or even death if left untreated!
- Alcohol and drug use (including prescription medications). Alcohol dehydrates you while also speeding up the metabolism; this combination increases body temperature, making it easier for heat stroke symptoms like dizziness/lightheadedness or even unconsciousness - especially if combined with physical exertion like jogging outside on hot summer days! Meanwhile, drugs such as cocaine cause damage directly through chemical reactions within nerve cells, which leads them to die off rapidly, so there isn't enough time between each cell being replaced before another one dies off again, leading us back to where we started from no more nerves left at all...
Who is at risk for rhabdomyolysis?
- People who are sick or injured.
- People who have had a crush injury or trauma.
- People who have been in a car accident.
- People who have been in a fight or who have been physically assaulted.
What are the symptoms of rhabdomyolysis?
The symptoms of rhabdomyolysis can be mild or severe. Sometimes, they may be so mild that you don't notice them. The most common ones include:
- muscle pain
- tiredness
- dark urine (or no color in your urine)
- nausea and vomiting (especially after exercise)
Other possible symptoms include diarrhea, confusion, fever or chills (signs of infection), and high creatinine levels in your blood test results.
How many people have rhabdomyolysis?
Rhabdomyolysis is uncommon, and there are no statistics on the number of people with rhabdomyolysis. However, if you have any of the following conditions or have been injured:
- Diabetes
- Sickle cell disease
- Alcoholism or alcohol dependency syndrome (a condition that results from long-term alcohol use)
Your risk will be higher than someone without those conditions.
Can you treat rhabdomyolysis yourself?
If you experience the symptoms of rhabdomyolysis, it's important to see a doctor immediately. But if you don't have any of these symptoms, or if they're mild, there are things that you can do at home to prevent further damage.
If your urine is dark or brown and has an unusual smell (like ammonia), this could be an indication that there's something wrong with your kidneys and liver. If this happens after exercise, it could mean that one of these organs is being damaged by excess levels of creatine kinase (CK). This enzyme builds up in the bloodstream when muscles are damaged by overuse or injury--and since there isn't much room in our bodies for different waste products like CK, they'll often find their way into our urine as well!
Treating Rhabdomyolysis
- Rest. The most important thing you can do is rest. You need to let your body recover from the damage that has been done, and if you are physically able while you are sick, resting will help prevent further damage or complications from setting in.
- Ice baths or cold showers can help reduce swelling and pain by constricting blood vessels and slowing down muscle tissue breakdown (which reduces the amount of toxins released into your bloodstream). It's best not to use ice directly on the skin--use an elastic bandage wrapped around it instead!
- Avoid alcohol: Alcohol causes dehydration because alcohol contains much water; this can worsen rhabdomyolysis by causing even more strain on kidneys as they work harder to filter out toxins than usual. If possible, avoid drinking any liquids except for water--avoiding fluids altogether will put more stress on your body's systems but may be necessary if there isn't enough time between diagnosis and treatment options (such as when someone needs immediate care).
- Avoid exercise: Exercise increases blood flow throughout the body, which helps improve circulation but also increases muscle contraction, which causes additional strain during exercise sessions where muscles have already been damaged due to such things as overuse injuries caused by repetitive motions done over time - such as lifting weights too heavy relative to one's strength level or simply working out too hard without proper preparation beforehand (such as stretching before doing squats).
If you have any of these symptoms, it may be time to see a doctor.
If you are experiencing muscle pain or tenderness, see a doctor. If you have any of these symptoms, it may be time to see a doctor:
- Muscle weakness
- Fatigue that does not improve with rest
- Swelling in your arms or legs (especially if it's painful)
Takeaway:
If you have rhabdomyolysis symptoms rhabdomyolysis, it's important to seek medical attention immediately. Rhabdomyolysis is a serious condition that can lead to kidney failure and death if not treated promptly.
If you suspect that you or someone else has rhabdomyolysis:
- Contact your doctor or go immediately to an emergency room if any of these symptoms occur after exercise: muscle pain, weakness, or fatigue; dark urine (it may look like cola); extreme thirst; nausea or vomiting; rapid heartbeat; dizziness upon standing up quickly from sitting position (also called postural hypotension).
Conclusion
Rhabdomyolysis can be a serious condition, so it's the symptoms and how to treat them. If you experience any of the above symptoms, please seek medical attention immediately!
