Rhabdomyolysis is a serious syndrome due to a direct or indirect muscle injury. It results from the death of muscle fibers and release of their contents into the bloodstream, including large amounts of:
- Potassium.
- Phosphate.
- Myoglobin.
- Creatine kinase (CK).
- Urate.
If a person has extremely sore or weak muscles a few days after exercising, he/she may have rhabdomyolysis (also look out for muscle swelling and dark urine).
Our kidneys are responsible for removing these components from your blood so you can get rid of them in your pee. In large quantities, these muscle components damage your kidneys. If your kidneys can’t get rid of your body’s waste fast enough, kidney failure can occur. This can be life-threatening
This can lead to serious complications such as renal (kidney) failure. This means the kidneys cannot remove waste and concentrated urine. In rare cases, rhabdomyolysis can even cause death. However, prompt treatment often brings a good outcome. Here’s what you need to know about rhabdomyolysis.
Rhabdomyolysis Causes
There are many traumatic and nontraumatic causes of rhabdomyolysis. In the first category, causes include:
- A crush injury such as from an auto accident, fall, or building collapse.
- Long-lasting muscle compression such as that caused by prolonged immobilization after a fall or lying unconscious on a hard surface during illness or while under the influence of alcohol or medication.
- Electrical shock injury, lightning strike, or third-degree burn.
- Venom from a snake or insect bite.
Nontraumatic causes of rhabdomyolysis include:
- The use of alcohol or drugs such as heroin, cocaine or amphetamines, Methamphetamine etc.
- Extreme muscle strain, especially in someone who is an untrained athlete; this can happen in elite athletes, too, and it can be more dangerous if there is more muscle mass to break down.
- The use of allopathic medications such as antipsychotics or statins, especially when given in high doses.
- A very high body temperature (hyperthermia) or heat stroke.
- Seizures or delirium tremens.
- A metabolic disorder such as diabetic ketoacidosis.
- Diseases of the muscles (myopathy) such as congenital muscle enzyme deficiency or Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy.
- Viral infections such as the flu, HIV, or herpes simplex virus.
- Bacterial infections leading to toxins in tissues or the bloodstream (sepsis).
- Injury or trauma: A severe burn (2n or 3rd category), electrocution or crushing injury (most common cause) can cause muscle fibers to break down rapidly.
- High-intensity exercise: Jumping into an exercise program too fast can lead to rhabdomyolysis when muscles don’t have time to heal after an intense workout.
- Severe dehydration and overheating: Heat causes faster muscle breakdown. Your kidneys can’t dispose of your body’s waste without plenty of fluids.
- Medications: Some allopathic medications can cause muscle breakdown, including antipsychotic, antidepressant and antiviral Statin medications can also lead to rhabdomyolysis, especially when they treat diabetes or liver disease.
- Substance use disorder: Heroin, LSD, cocaine and alcohol are toxic to our body and can cause our muscles to deteriorate.
- Long periods of inactivity: People who fall, lose consciousness and can’t get up for an extended period can develop rhabdomyolysis.
- Certain medical conditions: Genetic conditions like McArdle disease and Duchenne muscular dystrophy can lead to rhabdomyolysis. Also, certain metabolic or mitochondrial conditions have a higher risk of rhabdomyolysis.
Complications of rhabdomyolysis
Complications of rhabdomyolysis include:
- Kidney damage or kidney failure.
- Electrolyte level abnormalities.
- Metabolic acidosis.
- Compartment syndrome.
- Disseminated intravascular coagulation.
Rhabdomyolysis can be life-threatening if it isn’t treated quickly.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of rhabdomyolysis may be hard to pinpoint, because the course of rhabdomyolysis varies, depending on its cause. And symptoms may occur in one area of the body or affect the whole body. Also, complications may occur in early and later stages.
The “classic triad” of rhabdomyolysis symptoms are muscle pain in the shoulders, thighs, or lower back; muscle weakness or trouble moving arms and legs; and dark red or brown urine or decreased urination. Keep in mind that half of people with the condition may have no muscle-related symptoms.
Other common signs of rhabdomyolysis include:
- Abdominal pain.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Fever, rapid heart rate.
- Confusion, dehydration, fever, or lack of consciousness.
Blood tests for creatine kinase – CRK (muscle breakdown), and urine tests for myoglobin (released from damaged muscles) can help diagnose rhabdomyolysis (although in half of patients with the condition, the myoglobin test may come up negative). Other tests may rule out other problems, confirm the cause of rhabdomyolysis, or check for complications.
Common complications of rhabdomyolysis include very high levels of potassium in the blood, which can lead to an irregular heartbeat or cardiac arrest and kidney damage (which occurs in up to half of patients). About one in four also develop problems with their liver. A condition called compartment syndrome may also occur after fluid resuscitation. This serious compression of nerves, blood vessels, and muscles can cause tissue damage and problems with blood flow.
Diagnosis 
A doctor will diagnose rhabdomyolysis by:
- Examining and asking about recent physical activity, prescription medications and substance use.
- Urine test to check the levels of myoglobin (a component of broken-down muscle) in urine.
- Taking a sample of the blood to measure creatine kinase (CK) levels (this protein muscles release when they break down).
After a diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis, advise a muscle biopsy test (under local anesthesia).
Advise a blood test to see if patient have a genetic condition that increases the risk of developing rhabdomyolysis.
Rhabdomyolysis Allopathic Treatments
Early diagnosis and treatment of rhabdomyolysis and its causes are keys to a successful outcome. However, if compartment syndrome is not treated early enough, it may cause lasting damage.
Patient of rhabdomyolysis should be admitted to the hospital to receive treatment for the cause. Treatment includes intravenous (IV) fluids to helps maintain urine production and prevent kidney failure. Rarely, dialysis treatment may be needed to help kidneys filter waste products while they are recovering. Management of electrolyte abnormalities (potassium, calcium and phosphorus) helps protect heart and other organs. Sometimes patient may need a surgical procedure (fasciotomy) to relieve tension or pressure and loss of circulation if compartment syndrome threatens muscle death or nerve damage.
In some cases, patient may need to be in the intensive care unit (ICU) to allow close monitoring.
Most causes of rhabdomyolysis are reversible.
If rhabdomyolysis is related to a medical condition, such as diabetes or a thyroid disorder, appropriate treatment for the condition will be needed. And if rhabdomyolysis is related to allopathic medication or drug, its use will need to be stopped or replaced with alternative.
Side effects of the allopathic treatment
Side effects of treatment could include:
- Sore or weak muscles.
- Nausea, vomiting or headaches caused by a drop in blood pressure during dialysis.
- Fatigue.
- Infections around IV needle insertion points.
Homeopathic Treatment for rhabdomyolysis 
As we know, early diagnosis and treatment of rhabdomyolysis and its causes are keys to a successful outcome. A Homeopathic doctors can even reverse kidney damage. However, if compartment syndrome is not treated early enough, it may cause lasting damage which are even with Homeopathy, are hard to treat (3-5 months treatment duration).
To shorten the article; for the treatment of each and every cause(s) for rhabdomyolysis please click/visit the specific link:
For the kidney failure Click Here.
For sore and/or weak muscles or muscles dystrophy, please Click Here.
For the treatment of drug addiction, please Click Here.
For the treatment of heatstroke Click Here.
For the treatment of seizure Click Here.
For the treatment of delirium, Click Here.
For the treatment of diabetes, Click Here.
For the treatment of HIV, Click Here.
For the treatment of herpes zoster, Click Here.
For the treatment of compartment syndrome, Click Here.
For the treatment of liver diseases, Click Here.
For the treatment of heart diseases, Click Here.
For the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, Click Here.
For the treatment of blood pressure, Click Here.
For the treatment of thyroid diseases, Click Here.
For the treatment of fatigue, please Click Here.
P. S: This article is only for doctors having good knowledge about Homeopathy and allopathy, for learning purpose(s).
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Dr. Sayyad Qaisar Ahmed (MD {Ukraine}, DHMS), Abdominal Surgeries, Oncological surgeries, Gastroenterologist, Specialist Homeopathic Medicines.
Senior research officer at Dnepropetrovsk state medical academy Ukraine.
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