Ask Dr. Nandi: What is Rhabdomyolysis? Teen suffers deadly illness from exercising too much

Summer is fast approaching and many people are hitting the gym, but that soreness the next day could signal a bigger problem.

[sgtrock]

I had it bad. Kidney failure. Flatbed trucking I was tying down steel coils outdoors in Phoenix Arizona. 123 degrees. After I'd tied down the load for about and hour and a half I drove away. I drank plenty of water but still I felt weird and my eyes got blurry. I kept drinking water but I didn't pee. Outside of Phoenix I finally peed. I peed coffee colored. After about another 50 miles I felt terrible. I was having chest pains by then so I stopped at the ER at Palo Verde Hospital in Blythe, CA. I was there for 3 days. They filled me up with fluids. It took me 7 months to get back to somewhat normal. A full year before I could exercise again and I worked out hard all the time before. Also, next to me in the ER was an illegal who the border patrol found passed out in the desert. His core temp as 110. He died. Be careful out there.

[kelseygraham]

I suffered from this about 3 weeks ago. My twin sister and I both had it. It ended up also leading to compartment syndrome which is when the fluid fills into pockets in the muscle. We both needed immediate surgery. We are recovering now but it was a long journey!

[heynick]

Always been proud of my 'work-out record' until last Saturday when I was encouraged and tried the indoor cycling/ spinning for the first time. (never liked it as the background music/EDM selections are always lame to me and definitely not my taste)

Anyways I tried but it didn't last long cause apparently I couldn't handle the intensity. However It was that 15 minutes that broke me, specifically my thighs. That pain is so unbearable it could compare to that of kidney stones several years ago. It aggregated day by day and eventually I could not move at all, even lying still the pain would be lingering and I got woken up constantly during the nights.

Rhabdomyolysis is the name, it's supposed to be rare but here I am enjoying my first-ever 'hospitalized' experience.

Word of advise: DO NOT ever try that cycling in the gym unless you have to or you're 200% ready/prepared for it.

IM LITERALLY HOSOITALIZED RIGHT NOW WHILE TYPING THIS.

[Owngeeeeee]

Doesn’t take much to get this… I worked out one time for two hours. Didn’t even do very hard exercises. My CK levels are currently 38, 000 and I’m in the hospital.

Hopefully I will recover soon. I didn’t even know what this was prior to getting it.

[crispycrystal]

So it's basically an 8 hour arm workout.

[Wallucks.]

I suffered of this last February mostly from legs and back muscles and was hospitalized for 3 days.

-Don't wait, hydrate as much as you can and go see a doctor, you're better safe than sorry!

-From personal experience, my signs were extreme soreness, poor flexibility and very weak muscles, to the point where my legs would always shake while standing and I could even fall down... At the worst point, my fist clenched uncontrollably from cramps, even if they weren't really part of the affected muscles.

[hpybalive]

I had chronic mild to moderate rhabdo from anticholinergic syndrome from prescriptions. I have no words for the pain I was put through.

[keatondauffing]

I think I might have had it… My arms were super sore, swollen, and stiff. I couldn’t move them much, and they were most comfortable in a bent position. They also hurt at rest, which is unusual for me when I am sore. If I had it I think it was mild… I just drank a TON of water to cleanse my body and after a few days it got better. I wasn’t too worried because I heard that wiling mild cases all you have to do is drink a lot of water, and that’s what I did!

[shananarocks]

Rhabdomyolysis mostly occurs during "Eccentric Contractions" like running downhill when the muscle lengthens while contracting. This includes repetitive squats or bike spinning exercises where many cases of fatal rhabdomyolysis cases have been reported.

[joshuahamilton]

I am unfortunately recovering from this now after bowling three games back to back. Rhabdo is no joke at all.

[rubyw]

I have been hospitalized three times with this and I haven't gotten any real answers as to why this is happening to me. All three times they told me my organs were shutting down.

[skinlesswalnut]

Just got home from the gym, first time I've been in at least 5 years, couldn't lift my arms after, just went pee and it was pretty much black, also got a little fever, I've also been drinking cranberry and raspberry juice all day but I don't think that causes change in pee colour, should I go to hospital? It's 3 in the morning so not a lot I can do right now, Im also on the tail end of an addiction to crack heroin and alcohol and thought my kidneys were damaged anyway for many reasons, can someone let me know please who's been through it thanks

[chugalug]

I think I have it...waiting to see if I REALLY have it when my urine is dark but I can’t bend my arms

[gracereeves]

I had rhabdo. I was hospitalized for 3 days and its ben a year, I have severe problems to this day. I've been to the hospital 3 times in the last 2 weeks.

[barbj]

A friend of ours had muscle weakness for months to the point he had to leave work (he is a doctor) and be hospitalized. Turns out it was from a statin. Hes now taking a chemo drug 3 days a month for the next 5 to 6 months.

[curtisvandall]

It could get it from excessive drinking? Or simply A lot of alcoholics get It?? Make sure to watch out on how much you drink or doing heavy lifting or intensive work out's? Please be safe? Idk why but I got it from drinking to much alcohol

[omarflores]

Got it today was at work pee out dark red urine went straight to the hospital and was put on 7 liters of iv fluid
I probably got it from belong trained on a forklift the last month and my water intake drop a lot since I thought I didn’t need as much
Stay hydrated is best

[georgethejungle]

I just had this today and it wasn’t fun it is horribly painful. I had 2 IV fluids and can’t workout for a week until my blood works will back to normal. I did leg day for 4hours 😢 and make it sure is not gonna happen again

[ArshuSharma]

I had rhabdo, i got to the gym didn't do much hard exercise just doing light but still my muscles became still and sore hard to move and pain was all over me, the red flag appeared when I saw Chocolate Brown Coloured Urine, I immediately rushed to the Hospital they tested my blood and Urine. Doctor advised me to take fluids more frequently and I recovered within 3-4 days and I quit the gym. Now whenever I think about going to the gym I always remember it and it haunts me. Is there any way to make big muscles and not face this problem again.

[BeeNaturalFarm]

Hi Dr. Nandi, thanks for sharing this valuable information about workout. I know these are the risk factors that may create another problem in the process of solving problem. I believe it is absolutely true that everything is risky. However, keeping this point in mind would help taking care of internal organs as well.