Elevated CK levels... should I be worried???

Bones, joints and muscles
1

So I went to the ER yesterday, bc since Friday I have not been able to stand up for more than 10-15 minutes without getting so tired or light headed that i need to lie down. I have had off and on mild nausea and bad muscle aches in my back, stomach, and chest. The doctor did bloodwork which showed my CK level to be at 687 (normal is between 17-170). She said your levels could register high after a vigorous workout, but seeing as I have spent the last 3 days in bed, that wasnt normal. She said she wasnt offically "diagnosising me", but referring me to a rhemotologist to look into the possibility of muscular dystrophy.

Now I am kind of freaking out. I wasnt expecting that. I am a 33 year-old avid athlete. I have chronic muscle pains, but usually its always in the back, chest, stomach, or neck area... rarely my limbs. 

There never said what was causing my sudden lack of energy, light-headedness, and nausea. They said it could just be a virus but there was no way to tell and just sent me home. However, the possibility of having Muscular Dystrophy has me shaken. It sent me into a research mode while I wait for my specialist appointment next week.

I have found various causes for elevated CK levels-

* Heart Issues

* Muscular Diseases

* Tyroid Problems

* A Virus

* Vitamin D or B12 Deficiencies

Obviously, I am hoping for 1 of the later 2. The CK levels and my chronic muscle pains are the only thing leading her to suggest the possiblity of Muscular Dystrophy. Of course, it's not easy to put your mind at ease when you hear that.

Has anyone else on here expeirenced high CK levels before and know more about it? Is it possible that I just have a virus that has made me sick and weak the past week or so that is causing the muscle pain and CK level readings? Could it be something else?

Any input from someone who knows more about it than I do would be much appreciated.

Thank You.

 

2

I don't think you have any of those conditions:

Moderately increased CK levels may be seen following strenuous exercise such as in weight lifting, contact sports, or long exercise sessions.

Sounds like you do exercise...."avid" athlete.  I was just reading that if you have this condition of high CK levels and your an athlete...to take a couple days off...from working the muscles....and hydrate...and you should feel better.

3

the only issue is, i have barely moved since Friday. The test was taken yesterday. The last time i did anything remotely strenuous was Thursday night, playing in a softball game. She said that the fact my levels were around 3 times normal levels and seeing as i had spent the last 3 days laying in bed, was not normal. She said if i had worked out the day before or something that it would be different but seeing as i hadnt been doing much recently it had her concerned.

4

I would keep resting and drinking fluids...Gatorade?

Water....there is nothing else really to do...until the next test after resting?

5

i drink gatorade like a fish. I keep one with me 24/7 practically.

I just wish i knew more about CK levels.

In an ideal world, I just have a virus that has put me down and made me hurt so bad and be so weak the past few days. I just dont know if a virus could cause the CK level reading that I recieved or not.

6

Maybe your drinking too much Gatorade smile

Hope you feel better...check back when you get new results and see what others have to say.

7

Too much gatorade can cause toxidity in your body.

I recommend reading about it.

Hope you feel better soon.

8

I have just read a medical paper on the internet,which states high levels of CK ,apart from the usual illnesses, can be caused by high level of physical exercise causing muscle damage.

 

9

One other possibility is McArdle syndrome where one symptom is high CK, check it out here 

https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000329.htm

https://patient.info/doctor/mcardles-disease-glycogen-storage-disease-type-v

I would limit your Gatorade intake, apparently too much is not good for you or your kidneys. Best of luck 

10

Hi Scottymar, McArdle syndrome is another possibility, with a symptom of High Ck levels. You can check it out on reputable medical websites. I would limite your Gatorade intake as too much is bad for the kidneys. Best of luck Meg.

11

Yes I realize exercise can cause high ck level readings BUT as I said above. I hadn't done any physical activity 4 days prior to the bloodwork being done. I had spent the 3 days prior laying in bed all day. CK level readings wouldn't be off 4 days after light exercise would they???

12

Morning Scottymar; did they do an ECG/heart reading (aka EKG), while you were at the ED?  if it were a heart issue, I think that this should have shown changes, too??   elevated CK levles usually are related to damaged muscle/s....and with your nausea etc I would have thought that they would have done an ECG???........

​As for the Musclular Dystropy, this too, was an Early Suggestive Diagnosis (along with MS) for me; so I Really feel that until further testing is done by your Rhuematologist, (and I Can understand your impatience/worry re what they have told you, which certainly is a wide Variant of conditions), it is probably best to wait for the further tests.......I went through the same feelings of "what"??? but it did me no good, and ended up with Fibro and CFS being the answer for the muscle pains....let us know how you get on, as we will all be waiting and keeping you in our thoughts, until you get some better answers.......and of course, if the symptoms remain/return, go back to the ED, to ensure that it is not heart related.......................Bron

13

Yes to Moyra; Gatorade is a stimulant, and can interfer with the heart, causing Palpitations / too fast heart beats etc....(not good at all).......Bron

14

Thank you for the response. They did do an EKG and it came back normal. They said my heart looked good.

my back muscles, as well as some in my chest and stomach are killing me the past couple days. They are so sore and ache, just laying in bed. I wonder if I got a virus or something?

i haven't had a fever. I've been laying in bed since Friday. I'm worn out. No energy, light headed if I stand up or move around very long. I'm trying to get my energy back and muscle aches to go away.

would a virus last this long, cause my muscles to ache and make me lightheaded and weak, yet have no fever?

15

I have similar symptoms and am also waiting to find out and freaking out. Did you ever find out?

16

Hi! How did things evolve?

17

Hi Scottymar10

I know this was a couple years ago but I am suffering with exactly the same thing...symptoms are the same as yours and blood test showed high CK levels that was taken after inhad already had 7 days off exercise.

It would really helpmmemtomknownwhat your story is now and if there is anything you did that helped?

Will be mich appreciated.

Thanks

Loren

18

Nothing comes from it, at the time I was 19, I regularly train, on noo supplements only 5"7 aswell and I had a ck count of over 5000, I was experiencing heart/chest pains regularly before getting checked, and they told me they had no idea why it was that high, and kept asking me if I used steroids. I went for a blood test, got the bus home, sat down an got a phonecall from my brother telling me I need to go to the hospital right now, as expected I was panicking, but all that came to it was a drip over night and no explanation to my ck level.

19

They will just put you on a drip to wash out the ck count, an tell you to come in a couple months down the line to see if it has gone down

20

Hey loren60893,

Im experiencing similar symptoms as well even after days off from physical exercise.

How is this turning out for you? Any updates?

Will be appreciated.