Kayaking

Hey been a while since I posted anything. This site is great, I always come here when I have a concern, people are so nice. I've had my pacer since 2009 and have had almost no issues, I play hockey and golf and barely know its there. I did try kayaking tonight on a flat lake and after about 45 my pacer area is a little sore. Is there any issues or concerns I should have about kayaking with a pacemaker?

Jim

6 Comments

Sore Muscles Around PM

by SMITTY - 2012-07-01 11:07:07

Jim,

I think this is one that the Dr will have to give the final word on, but if you will go to the Member Gallery and put in my name you should be able to see a diagram of the muscles that can be involved in a PM implant. As you will see there are some pretty hefty muscles around that PM and MY GUESS is the kayaking has made one of them sore.

Good luck,

Smitty

Sore muscles

by ElectricFrank - 2012-07-02 01:07:58

You are just using some muscles that you don't normally use. Who knows you might have had the same soreness without a pacer. There can also be some old scar tissue that was stretched a bit beyond your usual.

I drive a Jeep in the desert. After a rough run I occasionally have a sore chest muscle near the pacer from horsing the steering wheel around.

frank

muscles

by Tracey_E - 2012-07-02 08:07:50

As the others said, sounds like you just aggravated the scar tissue, used those muscles more than you do for golf, etc. I do this sometimes too. Try some ice or advil, if it doesn't get better in a day or two check with your dr just to be sure. And I love to kayak, have also ended up a little sore around the pm from it. Doesn't keep me from doing it any time I get the chance :o)

Feeling good

by Jmiller - 2012-07-02 11:07:35

Thanks for all the comments. This morning I feel much better. When I felt the discomfort yesterday I then remembered reading a post where someone messed up a lead kayaking. Then i decided I'd better check if kayaking was a no no. All is good, now just need to work on my technique. :)

Jim

Kayaking limitation

by ElectricFrank - 2012-07-03 01:07:40

Kayaking head down is definitely restricted except for very short periods.

fraqnk

E-Frank...

by COBradyBunch - 2012-07-05 09:07:55

That is one of the great things about kayaking, if you screw up, you just roll over and do it again... Now for the real issue. Only thing I could think of and it really shouldn't be an issue if you have had the PM for a while is the motion you go through doing a roll on your left (most people are implanted left side). The big arc you do would definitely be something your doc would tell you NOT to do until your leads are well established and some docs might still warn against but since most folks roll on their dominant side it wouldn't be a huge issue, either that or learn a low brace roll or even a hand roll to take care of the issue. As for the soreness, I agree with those who say it probably goes away after a while of using the area and teaching the muscles and scar tissue the movements.

You know you're wired when...

You can take a lickin’ and keep on tickin’.

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