What Causes Intermittent Pain In The Kidney Area And Muscle Cramps When CK Levels Have Been Fluctuating?

Posted on Wed, 16 May 2018

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 16 May 2018 Answered on

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 Last reviewed on

Question : Hello, I am a 23 year old male. My CK levels was consistently mild for the last three times it was checked. The first time it was at 600 U/L with symptoms including sever muscle cramps, nausea, itchiness, and kidney pain. During this time I was in China and don't remember doing anything to cause this to happen. A few months later I returned to the US and went to the ER. The doctor checked my CK levels again and it was at 292 U/L, symptoms decreased. He wasn't sure what caused my CK levels to increase like that and felt that it may have been something in China that caused the increase. I got my CK levels rechecked for a third time a few weeks back and it went up to 466 U/L. The doctors also ordered a ESR, ANA, CBC, CMP, and C reactive protein, all normal. My doctor then referred me to a rheumatologist with suspicions of myopathy. My Rheumatologist didn't find any clinical weakness in his evaluation. He has since rechecked my CK, Aldolase and many other test and asked me to come back in 4 weeks. I am going to be honest with you, I am a bit concerned and the reason is because of my current symptoms. I have noticed when I raise my left arm I have muscle twitching in my shoulder. I also have some weakness. I can't tell if the weakness that I am feeling in the left arm is real ( I can lift things and work out), but I am sure I do have the twitching when I raise that same arm. This weakness is for sure not clinical, but this along with my CK being mildly elevated has sparked a reasonable amount of anxiety. I have trouble breathing and it seems to be effecting my sleep. At times it feels as though i am not getting enough air. Occasionally I can feel the kidney pain and muscle cramps like I felt when in China (but not as bad).

My mild CK levels and my left arm are the two things that are concerning me. What is you opinion on this?

Second, putting aside my symptoms for a second, If you where viewing my CK levels fluctuating like this, what would be the cause? Would you be concerned?

Now knowing everything I have told you, what would be the best course of action? Do you think this is myopathy or any other disease?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Hypothyroidism, some medication or drugs effect may be considered.

Detailed Answer:

Hello,

I have read your question and understand your concerns.

Increased CK levels in most cases indicate neuromuscular diseases such as inflammatory myopathies (polymyositis, dermatomyositis ), dystrophinopathies, drugs induced myopathies, endocrine myopathies such as hypothyroidism, etc.

Also, increased CK levels are associated with alcohol or cocaine use.

I think, in your case if you don't use alcohol or cocaine, hypothyroidism is a condition to consider since all tests about autoimmune diseases resulted negative.

If you used drugs against malaria also while you were in China, this is also could be an explanation.

Hope you found the answer helpful.

Please discuss with your Doctor about these issues.

Let me know if I can assist you further.

Take care.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (31 minutes later)

My doctor also performed a thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test and that was also normal. Just recently we have tested for PTH, aldolase, sjogren AB, anti-jo-1, and cortisol urine levels. That was two weeks ago and I have not received a call from my doctors office. To be honest I am concerned because a lot of my symptoms are overlapping with ALS/MD. I have a few questions that I was hoping you could help me with.

My mild CK levels and my left arm are the two things that are concerning me. What is you opinion on this?

Second, putting aside my symptoms for a second, If you where viewing my CK levels fluctuating like this, what would be the cause? Would you be concerned?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (11 hours later)

Brief Answer:
No ALS.

Detailed Answer:
Welcome back.

First of all, you are too young and your symptoms, lab findings don't support the ALS diagnosis.

There are numerous conditions that have in common some degree of skeletal muscles damage that may cause high CK levels, such as alcohol, exercise, myopathies, endocrine disorders, adverse effects of drugs, using creatine as a supplement, etc.

I don't see anything serious and I think is not necessary to be concerned more than necessary.

Hope this helps.

Kind regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj