High Levels of Creatine Kinase?

[UnstrungHarp]

Hello!

I'm just curious to see if any of you ladies know something about creatine kinase (CK)...specifically how exercise can effect CK levels in your blood. I just got results from a blood test from two days ago, and the nurse asked if I had been exercising, because my CK levels were much higher than usual (I have to get a blood test every month due to a medication I take). This surprised me for two reasons: The first is that I have never *not* been exercising, although I did recently get back into a more intense regimen. The second surprising thing was that I hadn't exercised on the day of the blood test, and the only exercise I did the day before was approx. 45 minutes of Pilates. The day before that, I did Kick Max, minus the leg stuff at the end. And, I worked out four or five times last week - all Cathe workouts except for one day of Pilates.

However, from my few minutes of Google research, it sounds as though elevated CK levels shouldn't still be present more than 24 hours after a strenuous workout. Not that my Pilates workout from the day before the blood test was easy, but it was nowhere near the level of a Cathe workout. So I guess my question is, is it possible that my CK levels were still elevated from Monday's Kick Max, or possibly my weight workout from last Saturday, even though I wasn't experiencing excessive soreness on blood test day (Wednesday)? There is always the possibility that something else is going on, but it seems awfully coincidental that shortly after I amped up my exercise, my CK levels were high on my next blood test.

Thanks for any input!

 

[handels]

Did the doctor seemed concerned about the level? CK can indicate muscle damage and sometimes serious muscle disorders.

Another possibility - CK releases (and recreates) energy needed for really short bursts of intense activity. So, you may have done some routine chore or activity that you didn't consider exercise but was intense enough to require anaerobic energy.

Please let me know if you figure it out. I'm getting my Masters in Exercise Physiology so I'm really interested in the subject

 

[UnstrungHarp]

After I told the nurse that I had been exercising, she didn't seem concerned anymore. I didn't talk directly to the doctor (dermatologist), but I know we'll discuss it at my regular appointment next month. Since I intend to keep exercising, my CK levels could potentially be the same next month.

Now that you mention it, I do remember a few short bursts of activity before my appointment when my blood was drawn. It rained all day, and every time I got out of the car, I ran to wherever I was going...one time, carrying a moderately heavy box. Maybe that explains it after all!

 

[handels]

That's funny because running to the car was exactly the example I was thinking of when I wrote that. I'll bet that was it!

 

[shelsmaha]

How do you feel in other areas? My son has muscular Dystrophy and that is how they originally figured out what was going on was his high CK levels in his blood, he then went to a neurologist and had a muscle biopsy. He has a mild case but it is degenerative so who knows what the future holds, he's 16.

I'm not at all saying you have something wrong...I just think they should have given you more information so you don't have to go look things up on google. Hope you get it all figured out!

 

[UnstrungHarp]

I am feeling fine overall, especially since I've rededicated myself to exercising more often. I get my blood tested every month because I take a psoriasis medication that can have serious side effects.

In my experience, although my dermatologist is wonderful, some of the nurses in the office are a little...ditzy. One time, the same nurse told me that my "cholesterol was high" - which I was shocked to hear - then after I was on hold for an eternity, she finally said, "whoops, it's actually your HDL that's high, which is a good thing!" So, I'm not surprised that she didn't go into detail about CK with me.