Intramuscular oil injections generating slowly degrading oil-based depots represent
a controversial subject in bodybuilding and fitness. However they seem to be commonly
reported in a large number of non-medical reports, movies and application protocols
for ‘site-injections’. Surprisingly the impact of long-term (ab)use on the musculature
as well as potential side-effects compromising health and sports ability are lacking
in the medical literature. We present the case of a 40 year old male semi-professional
bodybuilder with systemic infection and painful reddened swellings of the right upper
arm forcing him to discontinue weightlifting. Over the last 8 years he daily self-injected
sterilized sesame seed oil at numerous intramuscular locations for the purpose of
massive muscle building. Whole body MRI showed more than 100 intramuscular rather
than subcutaneous oil cysts and loss of normal muscle anatomy. 2-step septic surgery
of the right upper arm revealed pus-filled cystic scar tissue with the near-complete
absence of normal muscle. MRI 1 year later revealed the absence of relevant muscle
regeneration. Persistent pain and inability to perform normal weight training were
evident for at least 3 years post-surgery. This alarming finding indicating irreversible
muscle mutilation may hopefully discourage people interested in bodybuilding and fitness
from oil-injections. The impact of such chronic tissue stress on other diseases like
malignancy remains to be determined.
Key words
bodybuilding - muscle augmentation - intramuscular oil injection - irreversible muscle
damage
