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Medical Author:

Benjamin Wedro, MD, FACEP, FAAEM

Benjamin Wedro, MD, FACEP, FAAEM

Dr. Ben Wedro practices emergency medicine at Gundersen Clinic, a regional trauma center in La Crosse, Wisconsin. His background includes undergraduate and medical studies at the University of Alberta, a Family Practice internship at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario and residency training in Emergency Medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

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Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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The most common symptoms of rhabdomyolysis include:

1. muscle weakness;
   
   
2. muscle aches; and
   
   
3. dark urine.

The muscle damage causes inflammation leading to tenderness, swelling, and weakness of the affected muscles. The dark urine color is due to myoglobin being excreted in the urine.  Some affected individuals describe this as blood in the urine, but when it is examined under a microscope, no red blood cells are seen.

Symptoms related to the expected complications of rhabdomyolysis include:

• symptoms of kidney failure, which may include swelling of the hands and feet;
  
  
• decreased urine production;
  
  
• shortness of breath as excess fluid builds up in the lungs;
  
  
• lethargy;
  
  
• weakness;
  
  
• symptoms of hyperkalemia (weakness, nausea, lightheadedness, and palpitations due to heart rhythm disturbances); and
  
  
• disseminated intravascular coagulation may present as unexplained bleeding (as previously discussed).

In children, renal failure and disseminated intravascular coagulation are less common. The symptoms are primarily muscle aches and weakness.

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