Discharge Instructions - Rhabdomyolysis

As discussed in the Emergency Department prior to discharge, you have been diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis.  Rhabdomyolysis is when muscle tissue gets severely damaged and substances from inside the muscle cells leak out into the blood.  This can lead to more serious problems including kidney damage and electrolyte disturbances that can result in deadly irregular heart rhythms.

Different things can cause the muscle damage associated with rhabdomyolysis including muscle injury or surgery, very intense exercise, lying in the same position for a very long time, certain infections, medications and poisons, and certain hereditary muscle disorders.

Rhabdomyolysis can cause muscle pain, red or brown discoloration of the urine, and muscle weakness.  Treatment depends on the cause and severity of rhabdomyolysis.  You may have received fluids through an IV in the Emergency Department, which can help your body flush out the harmful substances released from muscle cells.  It is important that you drink plenty of fluids in the next 24-48 hours to continue to flush out harmful substances in the blood.

You may have been directed to follow up with your primary care provider or in the Emergency Department for repeat labs.  It is important that you follow up with these labs to ensure that your kidneys are recovering from rhabdomyolysis.

Return to the Emergency Department for worsening pain, fever (≥38.0 °C or 100.4 °F) after 2 days of antibiotics, inability to pass urine for 6 hours after multiple attempts, or any new or concerning symptoms.