'I did 15 minutes of popular exercise class and got muscle death disease'
The rare and serious muscle injury comes when you over-exert yourself and can send you months back on your fitness journey if you do not take care and listen to your body
Ending up in hospital for five days after just 15 minutes of exercise, the an otherwise health woman was terrified to learn she was suffering from "muscle death disease."
"Sav" who goes by "Stupid Blonde" on TikTok, ended up being hooked up to wires and drips for five days after losing the ability to walk. Describing how her muscles felt 'dense' and 'hurt in a way that's not just soreness', she feared the worst.
Sav, who has had more than 5 million likes on her videos, told her followers: 'Literally did 15 minutes of CycleBar class and gave myself the muscle death disease now I'm in the hospital. Beware of cycling you might get rhabdo (rhabdomyolysis).'
And she's not the only one. A spate of young women on social media are sharing that intense exercise has also left them with the rare muscle injury. Cleveland Clinic says rhabdomyolysis urges anyone experiencing symptoms to seek immediate medical help.
It said: 'Rhabdomyolysis is a rare muscle injury where your muscles break down. This is a life-threatening condition that can happen after an injury or excessive exercise without rest.
"If you notice symptoms like weak and sore muscles and colour changes in your pee, contact your healthcare provider.'
Another young female patient, filming herself at the beginning of a spin class, said hours before being hospitalised: 'She doesn't know it yet but in 36 hours that will be the last shift with her patients, she will lose the ability to walk independently, the muscles in her lower extremities will die and her kidneys and the rest of her entire being will fight to survive.'
Another TikToker, Miss Jane said she was struck down with the condition after having 'quite a long break from the gym," but said that 'you have to push your body really really hard to get rhabdo.'
Brynn Mapes also said she was 'destroyed' after one leg day, videoing herself from a hospital bed.
Doctor Tommy Martin responded to her video saying 'Being so sore you cannot function is not the sign of a good workout….. likely a sign that you went way too hard and now likely have set yourself back some…..
'Rhabdomyolysis from strength training is relatively rare but definitely can happen. When you started a new program or begin with a new trainer, make sure they know your current fitness level and do not try to make you do too much too soon.'
One commenter said her symptoms were 'dark coloured pee, swelling in the affected limbs, can't stretch them out without excruciating pain.
Sarah, who commented on the video with over 200,000 likes, said: 'Why are people who don't exercise regularly just waltzing into high intensity level workout classes is my question.' The Mirror
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