Rhabdomyolysis Symptoms And Signs

When it was discovered that the relatively rare condition, rhabdomyolysis, could be caused by the ingestion of certain types of medications, such as Bayer’s cholesterol medication Baycol, the healthcare community placed new emphasis on learning the symptoms and signs of the development of rhabdomyolysis. Rhabdomyolysis can be a devastating condition and causes the breakdown of the muscle tissue in the body. Commonly seen after natural disasters and incidences where large numbers of people are injured due to heavy items falling on them, the condition is generally restricted to a muscle that has been injured. Researchers have found that cases of rhabdomyolysis caused by the ingestion of medications can affect any muscle in the body.

It is very important that a person that suspects that they have developed rhabdomyolysis obtain medical treatment as soon as possible to halt the progression of the condition. Although the initial symptoms of the condition are generally mild, rhabdomyolysis has been known to progress quickly with the patient health becoming critical in a short period of time. In many cases, people dismiss the symptoms of rhabdomyolysis until the disorder has become more aggressive and the symptoms of the condition become very uncomfortable for the patient.

The first symptoms of rhabdomyolysis to appear are generally pain in the affected muscle, weakness or inability to support things normally, and a feeling of tenderness when touched. The affect muscle may feel sore, like it may be beginning to bruise after a blow, except the pain does not go away and may intensify in the weeks after the condition begins. In the beginning, people tend to ignore the warning signs or self medicate with aspirin and pain relievers but as the condition gets worse, they will go to the doctor to find out why they cannot make the pain go away.

In some cases, the affected muscles begin to swell, becoming noticeably larger with stretched shiny skin layered over top of it. The longer that the person goes without medical treatment, the larger and more tender the affected muscle will become. If the condition becomes severe, the swelling of the muscle can cause the patient to develop compartment syndrome, which could result in the loss of the limb that is affected by rhabdomyolysis. Compartment syndrome causes severe damage to the muscles and must be treated quickly if the person is going to retain the use of their limb.

As the muscles break down due to rhabdomyolysis, they leave clues to the condition throughout the body. The broken down components travel through the blood stream as waste material and change the chemical makeup of the blood. By conducting a blood test and searching for these chemical components, a doctor would be reasonably sure of a diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis for the patient. The components of the broken down muscles are eliminated from the body in the urine, changing the color of the urine to a darker, red, or pink tinged color. This is another good indication for the doctor that the patient has developed rhabdomyolysis.

Do I Have a Baycol Lawsuit?

If you or a loved one have suffered a serious side effect after taking Baycol, you should contact an Injury Help Network attorney immediately. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries by filing a Baycol lawsuit.

Our group of trial lawyers are handling Rhabdomyolysis, kidney damage/failure and death lawsuits in all 50 states. Please use the form at the bottom of this page to contact a Baycol law firm for a Free Confidential Case Evaluation.