How quickly can muscles atrophy?

[Deja Q]

I'm finding it harder to walk these days. Even standing up for a short period of time leaves me light headed with a heavy feeling in my legs.

And this was just before starting the lexapro (which I'm now off) as well.

Thx!

[kedrys]

1. Pretty quickly

They had to redo a cast that had been on my lower arm three days (this was several years ago), and I could tell my arm was smaller near the elbow when they took it off. Two weeks later, when the cast came off for good, I couldn't bend my arm for a couple of days without excruciating pain.

Hope you feel better soon! :hug:

[phaseolus]

2. In a different context...

...strength training, research has found that muscle strength starts decreasing within 3 days or so after you've last exercised. Same thing goes for cardiovascular fitness.

Do whatever your doctor or PT tells you to do, but I'm guessing you'll have to try to keep some physical activity goin'.

[Deja Q]

4. Yup. Move or die.

I don't move much, but it's goofy that things would go awry now.

[Green Mountain Dem]

3. Have you been taking...

any statin drugs in the past 3yrs? Are you diabetic?...muscle damage can be reversed or at least alleviated with a daily supplement of COQ10. This natural enzyme is depleted when taking statins and is vital for maintaining healthy muscle cells.

[Deja Q]

5. What are those?

Not a diabetic and my doctor got on my case for owning and using a glucose test meter (which was claiming I am at official pre-diabetic levels, no less). He asked where I got it. "Well, the local pharmacy where they sell lots of them and for no prescription either." I should have added a callous joke referring to sudafed, but didn't.

[sendero]

7. Statins...

... are a class of cholesterol lowering drugs like Lipitor.

Many people develop serious muscle problems with these drugs after taking them for long periods of time.

My wife is diabetic and was on Lipitor for years. She started having cramps and muscle weakness and fatigue. Luckily, she uses the internet to do research and she suspected one of her meds, the internet pointed out which one.

Her doctors tried lower doses, no workie. Tried other statin-class drugs, same sides. Eventually got off statins altogether and found other ways to manager her cholesterol.

In general, the awareness of these known problems with these expensive albeit effective drugs is pretty low. It's not that you shouldn't take them, its just that if you are you should be acutely aware that if cramps/weakness develop, you must stop. Lots of doctors neglect to mention this.

Folks have died from these side effects when their heart muscles became damaged....

[Deja Q]

9. Nope, never been on any. Fortunately.

Sounds nasty.

[Green Mountain Dem]

10. Statins...

are used to reduce cholesterol, Lipitor,Mevacor,Crestor are examples of statins. I took Lipitor for 1yr and really lowered my chol... problem was I couldn't walk to the end of the driveway or go up the stairs. I am convinced that this caused my present condition of fibromyalgia which I would not wish on my worst enemy..not even GW!!

[heidiho]

11. Me, too, but my doc wants me to stay on

I had the effects from Zocor, which I took for three years - couldn't even dry my hair -

Crestor - within two weeks couldn't lift a grocery bag

Now Lipitor and have terrible leg cramps, etc. - my doctor lowered my dosage but it doesn't help. I see him in three weeks so I need to tell him that I can't go on like this.

[Green Mountain Dem]

13. Please...please...

take a daily supplement of COQ10 if you continue on the Lipitor...ask your Dr about Tricor (NOT A STATIN) it is as good or better than Lipitor for lowering chol and triglycerides!!
I am not a Dr. but I live close to a Holiday Inn Express!!

[sendero]

14. You REALLY...

... should stop taking them if you have these symptoms.

This is a serious issue, do some internet research.

[Paradise]

6. just curious...

were you on any type of antibiotic before you started having these problems with your legs?

think back...

[Deja Q]

8. Yes. After my surgery, I believe they had and I believe it's commonplace

to do such a thing.

The surgery was in January.

[Paradise]

15. just a respectful suggestion...

get the name of that specific antibiotic, from your doctor or pharmacist, and then google:

"adverse drug reactions to (name of that specific antibiotic)"

from strikingly-similar personal experience to yours, i believe it is reasonable to recommend your researching this, thoroughly.

if you would be so inclined, i would be interested in knowing what, if anything, came of your search.

in any event, thanks and best of luck in your recovery.

[William Bloode]

12. It's pretty quick.

I know with little or no use 3-4wks there will be a noticable difference. Good thing is though muscle has memory and builds back(what was already there, nothing extra)as fast or faster than it atrophied.

I have done alot of weight training in my day. Something funny i have noticed over the years. There have been times when i could not work out due to illness or injury. At times these have been over 1 yr. Now i get in terrible muscular shape, all soft, and shrunken. Yet when i resume my workouts i rebound in 3 months or less.