“To our knowledge, this is the first study… to show that statin use is associated with an increased likelihood of diagnoses of musculoskeletal conditions, arthropathies [arthritis], and injuries” Dr. Ishak Mansi from this month’s issue of JAMA Internal Medicine.
It’s not news that STATIN DRUGS cause muscle pain. In fact muscle pain is their number one side effect. However, it’s critical for you understand that referring to what is going on simply as “muscle pain” is missing the bigger picture. The ‘trust us‘ side-effect warnings for Statin Drugs refers to this muscle pain as Rhabdomyolysis —– a problem that most people have never heard of. Let’s take a minute and break it down into bite-sized chunks that are easy to understand.
Rhabdo means “with stripes“, Myo means “muscle“, and Lysis means “rupture“. So, in a nutshell, Rhabdomyolysis infers that striped muscle (skeletal muscles — i.e. biceps, triceps, quadriceps, gluteus, etc, etc) are actually breaking apart at the cellular level and releasing their contents into the extracellular fluid, which eventually make their way to the blood stream. The chief breakdown product of Rhabdomyolysis is something called ‘myoglobin’. Myoglobin is an oxygen-carrying protein in the muscle that is analogous to hemoglobin, an oxygen-carrying protein found in the blood.
SYMPTOMS OF RHABDOMYOLYSIS
How do you know whether or not you have Rhabdomyolysis? One of the classic findings is going to be dark or “Coke-colored” urine. But it is usually found via blood test long before the urine ever gets to that point. The main symptom is pain. Because muscle tissue is actually being broken and destroyed at the cellular level, people suffering with this problem are going to have muscle / joint pain, weakness, point tenderness, and even swelling of the affected muscles. This means that patients / doctors can easily be fooled as I have several times over the years.
Rhabdomyolysis can look just like artrhritis, a Rotator Cuff Problem, FIBROMYALGIA, a knee problem, or any number of other painful conditions. This is why I always find out whether or not someone is on Statin Drugs (or for that matter, other drugs) before I do anything else. By the way, certain other things like HYPOTHYROIDISM, DIABETES, AUTOIMMUNE CONDITIONS, CERTAIN ANTIBIOTICS, ANTI-DEPRESSION DRUGS, HARDCORE WORKOUTS, and drug or alcohol abuse can all contribute to the development of this problem as well.
WE ALREADY KNEW ALL OF THIS
WHAT IS THE NEW EVIDENCE FOR STATINS DESTROYING OTHER TISSUES AS WELL?
A study was published in this month’s issue of JAMA Internal Medicine (Statins and Musculoskeletal Conditions, Arthropathies, and Injuries) showing some extremely disturbing evidence. Dr. Ishak Mansi and his team of researchers, working out of the The North Texas Health Care System (Dallas’ huge VA), showed that musculoskeletal adverse events and diseases are significantly higher in those taking Statins than in those not taking Statins (study size was over 46,000 individuals).
The study concluded that, “Musculoskeletal conditions, arthropathies [Arthritis], injuries, and pain are more common among statin users than among similar nonusers.” They went even further and clarified the term “muscluloskeletal conditions“. They included, “all musculoskeletal diseases, arthropathies [Arthritis] and related diseases, injury-related diseases (dislocation, sprain, strain) and drug-associated musculoskeletal pain“. Stop and think about this for a moment. Not only are injuries to the MUSCLES, FASCIA, TENDONS, and LIGAMENTS significantly greater in those taking Statins, but so are the diseases affecting these tissues (not to mention bones), as well as adverse side effects of a wide variety of drugs.
Interestingly enough, the main reason that this study was done in the first place was to “prove” that Statin Drugs had anti-inflammatory powers that could actually help people with arthritis and musculoskeletal pain. Probably why one of the authors disclosed associations with AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Elan, Forest, Ortho-McNeil Janssen, and PFIZER. It would be safe to say that these companies are now in full “Damage Control Mode”. Fortunately for us, it is getting harder for Big Pharma to BURY STUDIES LIKE THIS. To learn more about CHOLESTEROL, just click on the link.
5 Responses
how to legaly address the statin attacks on muscles , ligaments, and tendons /
hank ou,
John ilmour
Having both shoulders fixed – rotator cuff. I blame the statins I have taken for the last 10 years.
I am now a 60 year old, healthy male although approximately two years ago, I was diagnosed with a left rotator cuff tear. I declined two different surgeons.
I have been able to rehabilitate through exercise to some degree.
In speaking with others at the gym, who are older than I am they found through exercise they were able to completely heal their shoulder pain and restore their strength.
Myself, on the other hand, have not had the same results.
Initially by accident, I would forget to take my statin medicine that I have been taking for at least three years .
I slowly began to notice on the days that I didn’t take my statin medication. My shoulder didn’t seem to hurt as much. I began taking the medication every other day along with my exercises I have noticed an improvement . i’ve been extending the time between doses as of this week for three days. and have noticed an improvement.
Thank you for the article I came across it while researching the possibility that the statins are preventing proper healing . of course, I’m hopeful, but it seems to me i’m noticing a continued improvement .
I will discuss with my doctor my findings .
I went from walking 8 to 10 km 2 to 3 times a week to being unable to walk and climb the stairs within 1 year of using Crestor. Severe muscle pain and tightness in both legs – wore night splints to help alleviate problem.
My doctor did not believe that Crestor was the problem. I stopped after my urine changed to a reddish-brownish colour.
After a few months, the pain in my calf muscle gradually disappeared, but my knees developed partially torn ACL, meniscus tears, tendinitis, cyst, and synovial fluid issues any myopathy in my left leg above the knee, IT band issues, hamstring issues and popliteal muscle injuries . This was the case for both knees. I now employ a stricter diet along with my exercise to keep my cholesterol in check.
Thanks to this article and others I found, I stopped using Crestor and I am working to rehab and regain strength in my left leg.
Statin users should be warned of the dangers of using these drugs.
Taken statins for 10 years+ and I have ruptured a bicep tendon (repaired by surgery), had to have a rotator cuff repaired and am now suffering from a partial rupture in a tendon in my wrist and hip. I am afraid to bend at the waist.
Mike W