What is Rhabdomyolysis? The rare muscle disorder that almost ended Tilak Varma’s cricket career

Promising young cricketer Tilak Varma, who delivered a match-winning performance in the Asia Cup final, recently opened up about his battle with a serious health condition known as rhabdomyolysis. This rare disease can lead to muscle death and ultimately kidney failure. In the latest episode of Breakfast of Champions with Gaurav KapurThe 22-year-old athlete talked about his health problems. He admitted that he may not have given his body enough time to recover, often pushing himself even on days devoted to rest, which likely contributed to the overexertion of his muscles.

“I didn’t bring it up to anyone. After the first IPL, I had some health problems. I wanted to be fit. These did not show up. I was diagnosed with a disease called Rhabdomyolysis, in which muscle destruction occurs. I had a feeling that I wanted to be in the Test team, playing domestic cricket, A series, a camp was going on,” Tilak said.

Going into detail about his health scare in 2022, the left-handed batsman opened up about the frightening experience he faced during the A series in Bangladesh, which forced him to retire in disbelief. As he was aiming for a century, he suddenly realized that his eyes were filled with tears and his fingers became unresponsive. Varma emphasized the seriousness of the situation, explaining that medical staff had to cut off their gloves to free their fingers.

“I was playing the A series in Bangladesh. I had pushed myself hundreds of times but suddenly my eyes started watering and my fingers stopped working. Everything became so difficult that I felt like a rock. I had to retire injured, cut off the gloves because my fingers were not moving,” Tilak said.

“Even on rest days, I was in the gym. I wanted to be the fittest player in the world and a great outfielder, so I wasn’t focusing much on recovery. I was taking ice baths, but I wasn’t giving my body the time it needed to recover. Even on rest days, I was pushing myself. That’s why my muscles were extremely stressed and broken. My nerves became quite stiff,” he said.

What is rhabdomyolysis?

As reported by the Cleveland Clinic, Rhabdomyolysis is a serious muscle disorder that can result from excessive physical activity, injury, or pre-existing health problems. Typical indicators of rhabdomyolysis include muscle weakness, stiffness, pain, and changes in urine color.

This condition can cause muscle tissue to deteriorate or break down, and it becomes especially dangerous when toxic substances from the muscle fibers enter the bloodstream and affect the kidneys. Such a scenario could lead to life-threatening kidney failure.

Cleveland Clinic notes that muscle components such as potassium, phosphate, myoglobin, creatine kinase (CK), and urate are released in excess and can leak into the bloodstream. While the kidneys usually filter and eliminate these substances through urine, overload can damage the kidneys. If the kidneys cannot excrete waste efficiently, this can lead to kidney failure, a potentially fatal condition.

Severe muscle pain or weakness that occurs a few days after exercise should not be overlooked as it may indicate rhabdomyolysis. Additionally, swelling in the muscles and darkening of the urine are important warning signs.

Disclaimer: It is important to consult a healthcare professional before starting any diet or exercise program. Always seek medical attention for any health problem.

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