Weird neck / shoulder pain ? (Vent)

Doing ABSOLUTELY wonderful a little over 3 weeks post implant, with the exception of wearing a 30 day event monitor to catch my flutter, and a strange neck /shoulder pain.
I've followed doctor's orders by NOT raising my elbow above my head. I've also not pushed, pulled, or carried anything over 5 pounds. Unfortunately, just like I thought, my shoulder is frozen. My collarbone has this nervy sensation when I raise my arm to shoulder level. My forearm is weak, and have already pulled a muscle in it by playing my guitar (which is crazy) What did y'all do to ease back into life after your restrictions were over. I'm scared of injuring my arm, because now it seems so weak after a month not using it. I'm hpoing this neck / shoulder nervy pain is not related to the pacer in any way. (Good thoughts, good thoughts, good thoughts)
By the way, I'm publicly announcing my goal to run 5 miles by the end of the year. I think it's TOTALLY do-able. I walked 2 miles to bring on my 2 week anniversary. This entire process has been such a smooth and great experience that I almost fear that sooner or later it'll "catch" up with me, and I'll fall like a deck of cards out of these clouds. It just really hasn't been that bad, though. Sometimes, it hits me, and I'll say to myself, "Gee, I can't believe I have a pacemaker." but that's the extent of it, and my thoughts move on.
I just try to keep moving, and positive. At 33, I'm trying to convince my family that I'm not disabled, and that this pacer is suppose to make me feel better not worse. They think I'm pushing myself to hard. I don't know what else to do. I've been on "old people" heart meds for 8 years that I'm finally just learning to be young again. I feel like I got a piece of my life back, but today I have realized how time hasn't stayed still while I was sick. It's been years........time has moved on. Hmm, where did it go?
I feel like I'm typing to outerspace. Hee, hee.
-Angelie

3 Comments

Hello

by Lotti - 2008-09-08 04:09:44

My surgeon recommended "walking" my hands up the wall. A little higher every few days. This apparently takes strain off your shoulders and arms as the wall takes the weight. It worked for me over a few weeks.
Hope this helps. Will be interested to see what other people recommend.

Lotti (UK)

Hi Angelie

by joy1 - 2008-09-08 05:09:30

I didn't have a device at 33 but i did have a mycardial infarction when I was 32. I didn't even know that women had heart attacks or that young people had them either. I sure found out differently.

Your right about time not standing still while your sick but you really are still very young and sounds like your pacer was a wonderful thing to allow you to get back into life, which you seem to want to do. Go for it! "Live each day like it's your last one."

As for your shoulder, doing the "wall walking" is a really good exercise. There are alot of things you can do at home which can help relieve your shoulder. Do it now while it is just now developing. Talk to your doctor about possibly getting a referral for physical therapy so you can get help getting started fixing it. The sooner you begin working on it, the better chance you have of getting it cleared up. Look online under "frozen shoulder" there are a number of websites which have pictures and explanations of the exercises. Keep us posted, ok?

joy

weird neck/shoulder pain

by mtibben - 2008-09-08 05:09:52

You need to start stretching the muscles slowly. Since you have not been moving the arm in a normal way, it has frozen up. Luckily for me I had some past experience with shoulder surgery so I did recognize what was happening when my neck and shoulder started to give me some discomfort. I started to stretch the neck, arm and chest muscle. So I suggest you do some rehabilition exercises like a therapist would give their patient after shoulder surgery. It will help, just take it slow and easy.

My check, arm, neck and shoulder started to feel normal after 2 months. My PM was implanted on 6/4/08 and I am now free of any discomfort or tightness.

Good Luck

Margurite

You know you're wired when...

You invested in the Energizer battery company.

Member Quotes

99% of the time, I totally forget I even have this device.