lifting weights and pacemakers

I am a 30 yr old former college football player who had a pacemaker implanted in 2009. I want to lift weights but was told by my doctor that the greatest weight that i could lift is 40 lbs. And that anything over that could rip the wires out of the heart. Does anybody know anything about this?

7 Comments

Wow!!!

by donr - 2011-05-01 01:05:06

Man, alive that's restrictive. I've had my friend since 2003; absolutely no restriction after the 6th week. You should either ask again or get a second opinion.

Don

I sure hope it's not true

by MXpacer - 2011-05-01 01:05:56

I love to lift. I just had mine put in three weeks ago. I do feel the docs are a little over protective. I have been told more than once I can go back to my normal life style, by another doc and a tech and a nurse. But My Surgeon said the same thing. His exact words were " You can lift but might want to go with less weight and more repetitions." There are allot of things in the world that weigh more than forty pounds.

depends on the doctor

by turboz24 - 2011-05-01 03:05:22

It really seems to depend on the doctor. Now, how the leads are routed can determine if you might be at risk for "clavical crush", it the lead is placed in such a way that it might get pinched between the clavical and upper rib, in which case the insulation on the lead would eventually be damaged and would have to be replaced.

I was specifically told that my lead was routed so that would not be an issue. My first EP said do what ever I wanted to when it came to weight lifting. My current EP essentially says the same thing and adds that if something does happen to the lead, he will simply remove it and replace it (he does like 100 lead extractions / year).

I still do all lifting, decently heavy. Bench press, flys, military presses, lateral raises, you name it. Now, my ICD does ache sometimes after a good run of 305 lbs 4x9 on flat bench press, but it's probably just the scar tissue.

get a second opinion

by Tracey_E - 2011-05-01 08:05:47

Some drs are more conservative than others. I wasn't given any restrictions and I lift well over 40 lbs. As Turbo pointed out, some are placed differently so that's why it'd be a good idea to get a second opinion before ignoring your dr's advice.

Also 30

by camgough - 2011-05-01 11:05:24

I am also 30 years old and got my pacemaker last July, 2010. I had other valve surgery, and needed a pacemaker as a result. My pacemaker doctor's have said no restrictions now, just be cautious of a direct blow to the device.When I ask about weights, ice hockey, skiing, all they seem worried about is being hit direct on the pacemaker, and nothing about the leads coming out. So far the only thing holding me back is the settings on my Adapta. Good luck,let me know how it goes.
Cam

thanks

by mbtex - 2011-05-02 12:05:20

Thank you for all of these supportive words of advice. I see my cardiologist in a month so I will ask him then. I do know that I have to be careful though because I also have congestive heart failure and aortic insufficiency. However, this is good information to know.

Matt

No limits...

by COBradyBunch - 2011-05-12 11:05:41

Once I got past my recovery period of 6 weeks no limitations and my leads have even survived me flying through the air, landing on my head and full weight on my bikes handlebars that separated one shoulder and torqued the hell out of the other after being hit by an SUV so I would ask if that 40 lb restriction was just until your leads had a chance to set.

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