Any doctors out there or medical people that know anything about this enzyme?
I’ve had really elevated levels of this for the past few weeks. Its preventing me from working out…well at least the doctors letting me work out.
I feel fine most of the time, I really think i can go out and do just fine.
Let me know what you know about it.
Thanks
Creatine phosphokinase. High levels of it in your blood mean there was significant muscle damage that occorred. CK is high after a heart attack because a heart attack causes damage to the cardiac muscle. Not only a heart attack causes high levels of CK.
Elevated CK level are also associated with electric shocks from high voltage sources.
really hard runs can also elevate CPK (usually I see this enzyme written CPK, not CK…)
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what they said. Only thing to add is that the effects of an exercise bout on CK levels vary dramatically. I know of one study in marathon runners, where CK levels immediately after a marathon either didn’t change at all, or increased dramatically, depending on the individual.
Has your doc been doing some cardiovascular follow-up?
And then there’s research that tried to link CPK levels to overtraining in swimmers. The problem is that it goes out the window with runners. Bu that didn’t stop every sports doc in the world to start testing for that some years ago 
sure has they have tested to make sure it wasnt heart realated. they also tested to make sure my kidneys were not being hurt and so on.
HI, I am a physician and it sounds like your MD is doing what is necessary. CK is released into the blood stream by degradation of muscle fibres, whether it be skeletal, cardiac or smooth muscle. it is important to clarify it is not a cardiac source because that is obviously bad. We all have a certain amount in our blood right now, however when it is elevated it suggests increased muscle breakdown (ie: damage). If you are training that would be the obvious choice for the source, however, there are other causes that should be ruled out. The easiest way to do this would be to stop training and repeat the bloodwork in about a week Complications include kidney damage from dealing with the other products of muscle breakdown. One word of advice: lots of fluids to help the kidneys flush out the by products.
Here is a quick explanation, talk to your doc to find out exactly what he is testing for. CK is usaually broken down into 3 isoenzymes. CK-MM, related to skeletal muscle (can elevate from lifting weights, running.) CK-MB, cardiac muscle related (high levels can be caused by myocardial infarction, and kidney damage) and CK-BB (which I believe is related to a rare brain tumor). High levels of CK-MB relative to total CK can help diagnose a heart attack. Its probably high because your breaking down muscle from training. Make sure with your doctor.
Track down TriMD - his name is Scott and he is a physician triathlete that can help you out.
Could be merely a sign of overtraining (how are your cortisol levels?). If your sports-med savy Doc is telling you to stop training, I would listen.
It may give him a chance to figure out if it has to do with your training regimen.
If values will return to normal after your time-out, you can go back with a modified training plan.
But if you don’t let them figure it out now, you might find out the hard way later in your life.
Good luck and be patient. What is a week or two of missed training compared to ruining the season or not recognizing a serious disease?