From the Research
Yes, muscle pain is a common symptom of rhabdomyolysis, as evidenced by the most recent study 1 from 2022, which highlights that necrosis, commonly manifesting as muscle swelling, weakness, and myalgia, is a symptom associated with both traumatic and non-traumatic rhabdomyolysis. Rhabdomyolysis is a serious medical condition characterized by the breakdown of damaged skeletal muscle tissue, which releases muscle cell contents into the bloodstream. The classic triad of symptoms includes muscle pain (myalgia), muscle weakness, and dark urine due to myoglobin being released from damaged muscles. The pain typically affects large muscle groups like the thighs, shoulders, and lower back, and can range from mild tenderness to severe, debilitating pain. This pain occurs because muscle damage triggers inflammation and swelling within the confined muscle compartments, stimulating pain receptors. Other symptoms may include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, confusion, and in severe cases, kidney failure. Some key points to consider about rhabdomyolysis include:
- The etiology may be considered acquired, including trauma, infections, and drugs, or genetic, such as myopathies or enzyme deficiencies, as noted in 1.
- Diagnosed by exceedingly high creatine kinase levels, rhabdomyolysis can lead to increased serum levels or more worrisome complications such as life-threatening acute kidney injury, as discussed in 1.
- Early recognition of rhabdomyolysis allows prompt institution of an appropriate therapy that includes blood purification and may minimize the renal dysfunction associated with this disorder, as highlighted in 2. If you experience unexplained muscle pain, especially after intense exercise, trauma, certain medications, or illicit drug use, seek immediate medical attention as rhabdomyolysis can lead to serious complications if not treated promptly, a point emphasized across studies including 3, 4, and 5.