Recovery questions

I got my pacemaker on 11/30/2010. What kind of range of movement is typical for the pacemaker side arm? The occupational therapist warned that I shouldn't try to "baby" the arm, or I might get locked shoulder. Still, I feel uncomfortable raising my elbow above my shoulder. It feels stretched, although it's not necessarily painful. I can't tell if it's because the skin is stretching a little more now that I have the pacemaker under there, or something deeper.
Also, I'm a floating teacher (so I have to go to a lot of different classrooms, lugging a rolling cart of papers/books with me). I'm not too worried about lifting my arm over my head, since my pacer is on the opposite side of my dominant hand, but how long is the 'no-lifting-over-5-lbs' rule for?

5 Comments

6 weeks

by Tracey_E - 2010-12-23 08:12:37

Drs vary but the average time to baby the side with your pm is 6 weeks. After that, do whatever you want and don't worry about it! You might want to wait a little longer before raising it over shoulder level, you won't hurt the pm itself but there's a tiny chance of pulling enough to dislodge the leads. Most drs include not raising over shoulder level with the no lifting rule. I've seen anywhere from 2 weeks to 3 months but the average is 6 weeks.

Pookies exercise sounds good.

by ElectricFrank - 2010-12-24 01:12:44

As long as you don't go above your should you shouldn't have to worry about it. Actually, a mild stretch of the pocket side is probably a good thing to keep from developing adhesions in the surgical area. I've always found it better break them up early and gentle rather than having to doing later. The word is GENTLE.

Now I get it. You said you are a floating teacher. I was trying to figure out why you needed to lug a cart of books around the pool. LOL In our early days of marriage my wife did substitute teaching in the famous 60's with kids laying on the floor in the back of the classroom stoned. I think she would have called herself a sinking teacher.

frank

Locked/Frozen Shoulder

by Pookie - 2010-12-24 12:12:50

Before my 6 weeks was up, the surgeon who installed my pacemaker gave me the following exercise to avoid frozen shoulder:

- stand in front of a wall.
- extend your arm out in front of you - so your fingertips are just touching the wall.
- "walk" your fingers up & down the wall, but don't go over your shoulder more than 6 inches.
- "walk" your fingers east & west as well.

another one:

- bend at the waist.
- let your arm go limp.
- gently swing your arm in small circles.
- repeat in opposite direction.

If you ever feel any pain = STOP.

Hope that helps.

Pookie

Breaking up adhesions

by #1grandma - 2010-12-25 08:12:46


I had my surgery on october 12th and I started rubbing my incision with vitamin E oil as soon as it healed. Now you can barely see the scar and I can't feel any adhesions under the skin. Works for me.

Sally



Shoulder Exercises

by kermiehiho - 2010-12-27 03:12:02

Pookie: The occupational therapist also told me to do the circly exercise, and I can lift my elbow about even with my shoulder when my arm is forward, but opening it up to the side is uncomfortable and produces that stretched feeling. I'll try the exercise walking my arm east and west. Maybe I should tape up a piece of butcher paper on the wall and track my progress, haha.
ElectricFrank & #1grandma: What's an adhesion?
ElectricFrank: The kids are generally not stoned anymore. They're just sleepy. Although the guy responsible for the damage to my heart was likely stoned and sleeping behind the wheel.

You know you're wired when...

You can finally prove that you have a heart.

Member Quotes

At age 20, I will be getting a pacemaker in few weeks along with an SA node ablation. This opportunity may change a five year prognosis into a normal life span! I look forward to being a little old lady with a wicked cane!