Kaelyn Franco was an experienced athlete by the time she entered college, and a friend recommended taking a spin class. According to an article in Yahoo, 23-year-old Kaelyn took her first 45-minute class on September 15th of this year.
Although Kaelyn admits to pushing herself on the bike, she did not feel that she was going beyond her level of ability. Her first reaction after getting off the bike was feeling weak and having trouble walking.
The following day Kaelyn began to have other reactions such as swelling and soreness in her legs. She eventually had trouble walking and dark brown urine.
These symptoms are signs of a life-threatening disease called rhabdomyolysis that causes muscle tissue to burst and release creatine kinase into the bloodstream. Creatine is an enzyme that is increased by muscle damage. Rhabdomyolysis or rhabdo may occur after an intense workout.
Its most serious complication is acute-renal-failure, occurring in approximately fifteen percent of patients. There are approximately 42,000 rhabdo cases reported each year in the United States. With seventy-four percent of its adult population overweight, doctors are concerned that the rhabdo phenomenon will worsen.
Kaelyn was in severe pain and sought help by heading to the local ER. A normal amount of creatine kinase per liter is about 33 to 211 units. Kaelin’s creatine kinase count read 259,000 units. The hospital staff told Kaelyn that they had never seen levels as high as hers. The doctors implanted a catheter.
The next step would be an IV to flush her blood, but Kaelyn developed a condition in her right leg called ‘compartment syndrome’. The symptoms are usually severe swelling of tissues in the muscles or bleeding internally after a serious injury. Kaelyn’s doctors rushed her into surgery hoping to save her leg from amputation.
The team of doctors cut the tissue and skin in her leg and relieved the pressure, thus saving the leg from being amputated.
About Rhabdomyolysis
According to the CDC, rhabdo is an uncommon medical condition occurring when muscle tissue bursts and the contents enter the bloodstream. In addition to the creatine kinase enzyme, a protein called myoglobin also enters the bloodstream. The kidneys usually flush myoglobin out through urine but myoglobin in large quantities can damage the kidneys.
Symptoms such as kidney failure, seizures, or acute compartment syndrome require medical attention immediately.
Other Causes of Rhabdo
Dr. Denise Pate is a physician and a certified spin instructor. Dr. Pate explains that a majority of rhabdo cases occur to people who are new at exercising or beginning a new form of exercising. She adds that a person’s physical condition matters also.
Rhabdo can be caused by dehydration or working out in a hot and humid climate. The NIH lists other causes such as drugs, seizures, trauma, or genetic muscle disorders.
Kaelyn’s Condition Two Months Later
Kaelyn is only able to walk with the aid of crutches. She cannot drive and therefore is unable to go to work. She acknowledges that her leg will never fully recover, and she is to expect lifelong complications as a result.
Meanwhile, Kaelyn is working on recovery and started a GoFundMe to help with her medical bills. She shares her rhabdo story on her Instagram site with the intention of helping others.
