What Causes Unexplained Swelling In Arms, Legs, Hips, Pelvis And Head?

Posted on Mon, 25 May 2015

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

Mon, 25 May 2015 Answered on

Mon, 15 Jun 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : XXXXXXX Hughes (45 years old) on April 24 I was sent to the emergency ambulance because I was comatose. the hospital took urine test and came up trace of oxycodone. I don't use any opite medicine, I was born with spinabiffita and later said I have ankylosing spondylyits. At the hospital I spent the weekend my body swelled up arms, legs, hips, pelvis, head. My kidneys levels were high also my liver. Got no answers of what it might be a nurse said habdomyolysis was on my paper work. I was doing a lot of heavy remodel work and filling a coal furnace, cleaning out the residue furnace, had pulled up carpeting from a room which I removed mold with lemon oil, vinegar. So I need to know what caused this to happen to me? thank you XXXXXXX Hughes

Answered by Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Trauma, Toxins, Heavy work among other causes/triggers

Detailed Answer:
Hello and Welcome

I appreciate your concern

In Rhabdomyolysis skeletal muscle damage leads to tissue break down myoglobin release into the bloodstream called myoglobulinemia. The Myoglobin is toxic to kidneys and can lead to kidney failure. This is manifested by a dark colored urine associated with rhabdomyolysis. As a result breakdown products of muscle cells such as CPK-3 also get elevated in the blood stream. There are a number of causes that can trigger muscle death and lead to rhabdomyolysis. These include Trauma, infections, Alcohol and illicit drug use, heavy work, prescribed drugs such as Statins, Heat stroke, thromboembolic disease etc. Based upon the nature of your work it could be a combination of local muscle trauma, heavy work and /or heat stroke, though further evaluation would be required to find the cause. Cardiac and renal function needs to be assessed on priority basis. Fluid and electrolyte balance ( especially that of potassium ) needs to be maintained. Complications like compartment syndrome and DIC would also have required monitoring through serial physical exams and labs. Please check with your pharmacist if there is any oxycodone being prescribed by mistake. For confirmation , your doctor may advise a hair follicle test for detection of semisynthetic opioids among other drugs.

Wishing you best of health

Thanks

Please consult your doctor before deciding on any further course of action.

For future follow up / correspondence you may ask me directly at the link given below

http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/Funnel?page=askDoctorDirectly&docId=68107

Dr. M.S. Khalil

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad