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  1. #1
    Registered User JoeinNEO's Avatar
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    CK levels and muscle atrophy

    Hello,

    New to BB forum just have a question about an issue plaguing me right now. Here's the story.

    I've been lifting for about 10 years since I was around 14. I'm 6'0" 225 lbs. From late 2017 until Feb. of 2020 I basically lifted for "maintenance" about twice a week. Starting at the beginning of Feb. I went from full time work (manual labor) to part time. I upped my routine in terms of frequency, intensity and volume. I was lifting 4-5 times a week and was very happy with the gains I was making.

    I noticed one day about three weeks ago, I just didn't "have it" on a back squat day. Legs and core felt wobbly and weak like when I was a teenager just starting to lift. The next day I went to do some light agility and footwork and found the same thing, no explosiveness at all. Next bench day I felt the same thing. I had the strength to lift the normal weight but I didn't have the energy to get my normal number of reps. My knees and shoulders felt sore and stiff. I could not get any kind of pump going, and afterwards I was not getting any recovery. Despite trying to keep lifting, I would wake up feeling skinnier every day. This went on for two and a half weeks and I am noticeably skinnier.

    I finally called a doctor and got bloodwork done. The creatine kinase (I assume ck-mm) was elevated at around 800. I lifted the day before the test not the day of. Doc said no working out for a week and drink a ton of water for kidneys.

    I know there are tons of threads about ck, here is my specific question: Would my levels of ck (800 u/L) be causing my problems in performance and recovery? From what I have read, the effects of rhabdo would be much more severe and would be clear from the outset (extreme soreness, brown urine, etc.), my issues were more gradual. ck of 800 u/L doesn't seem high enough to qualify as rhabdo. Has anybody dealt with elevated ck where it affected your performance in the weight room? If so, how long did it take to recover and get back into your normal routine? I'm a little freaked out right now, it feels like I'm wasting away losing my muscle and there's nothing I can do about it.

    Any responses appreciated, thanks.
    Last edited by JoeinNEO; 04-08-2020 at 07:57 AM.
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  2. #2
    Registered User Heisman2's Avatar
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    CK = 800 is not high enough for rhabdo. However, it's possible it was higher 1-2 weeks earlier when you were first starting to have issues. Have you taken a full week off? Chances are you either overtrained or you picked up some viral illness that is hitting your muscles. Other possibilities are much less likely statistically speaking. I'd take a week off, eat at maintenance calories with sufficient protein and carbs, and see what happens.
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    Registered User JoeinNEO's Avatar
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    I got tested on Monday and last worked out on Sunday. So I’ll take off the rest of the week off. Getting tested again on Friday.

    You’re right it could have been a virus I had some GI issues early on.

    Thanks for the response
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    Registered User JoeinNEO's Avatar
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    Update for anyone reading or future readers:

    Got another blood test today (Friday). Haven’t worked out all week. ck levels are down to 317 (normal range ends at 298). Joints and muscles are feeling better joint pain is almost all gone. Also gastrointestinal habits are getting back to normal (my whole sysytem was slow for about two weeks).

    I’ll talk to the doctor probably on Monday about the results and hope to get back to the weights ASAP. I haven’t had a good workout in 3 weeks and I’m just dying inside seeing my gains wither away.

    Anyone dealing with the symptoms I’d describe I would definitely recommend blood work. We’ll see if doc thinks it was a virus or overtraining. Happy Easter.
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    Registered User JoeinNEO's Avatar
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    Another update.

    Doctors office called me later Saturday said to get tested in another 2 weeks and no lifting in that time (yikes).

    Joint pain was virtually gone so I tried getting under a bar today for a few sets of bench just to see how I felt. Same old story. No pump and muscles just turned rock hard.

    Guess I’ll be taking the doctors orders, no lifting for two weeks. I’d like to try to talk to a specialist to really learn more about overtraining and it’s effects.

    Gonna be a miserable April.
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    Registered User JoeinNEO's Avatar
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    Okay finally things are becoming more clear.

    I start to feel better after taking time off but when I go 2 to 3 workouts in a short period symptoms come back. Stiffness and pain in muscle right above the knee cap, no pump, no recovery, and a slowed down GI system.

    A third blood test shows Ck levels were revealed again to 1000. That seems to have never been the issue. The problem is creatinine has been elevated the whole time, which can affect kidney health. It is slowly going down but symptoms are persisting. I can only presume that the cause of this was overloading on creatine. I was taking 2 scoops a day (about 14 g) for a six week cycle. Things started slowly improving when I stopped.
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    Originally Posted by JoeinNEO View Post
    Okay finally things are becoming more clear.

    I start to feel better after taking time off but when I go 2 to 3 workouts in a short period symptoms come back. Stiffness and pain in muscle right above the knee cap, no pump, no recovery, and a slowed down GI system.

    A third blood test shows Ck levels were revealed again to 1000. That seems to have never been the issue. The problem is creatinine has been elevated the whole time, which can affect kidney health. It is slowly going down but symptoms are persisting. I can only presume that the cause of this was overloading on creatine. I was taking 2 scoops a day (about 14 g) for a six week cycle. Things started slowly improving when I stopped.
    Why so much?

    3-5g/day is all you need
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    Registered User JoeinNEO's Avatar
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    First time I ever used it and I talked to a couple different people. One guy gave me a weight chart that said for someone of my weight to take more. Obviously I see now that was foolish


    I’m just trying to figure out now how to get back on track. Every time I start to get going again lifting for a couple of days the symptoms come back. Worried there is another problem but I have no idea what it is.
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  9. #9
    Registered User JoeinNEO's Avatar
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    Hey I just want to bump this thread and let anyone know who read this who might be having problems that it turns out I have Lyme disease. I started this thread in April, it’s now November. I’ve been on antibiotics for a little over a month. Sadly no improvement yet. If possible I’ll edit the thread title as well.

    This has been a miserable process for me. I would strongly advise anyone who is having muscle/joint/tendon issues that feel like they’re systematic to inquire with a doctor about a tick based infection. I had to go to 6 different doctors to get help and even now I’m being treated but my condition has not really improved. I have lost 20 lbs of body mass, 50 lbs of bench press and probably over 100 lbs on squat.

    So if you’re having the issues I described above, ask about Lyme. Get to know you’re body and be able to stick to your guns with doctors. They will try to find a minor problem to fix (not faulting them, just what it is). If you know that there is something wrong with you, be persistent.

    Lastly, never take anything for granted, including the ability to be strong and build your body. I would give so much to be able to have one good workout.
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