Back again!

Hey guys! I just came back from the doctor... I have been doing really good until the chest pain came and numbness in my left arm .. Happening almost everyday. I went to the heart doctor he said it sounds like nerve damage and is sending me to the neurologist for a nerve test? He said he didn't place the pm under the muscle and I asked him why he didn't give me an answer? Anyone experience this? It's one thing after another I have been doing so good so I'm grateful for not fainting but now this? Just trying to stay strong,

9 Comments

Hang in there

by sicksinuslady - 2013-01-11 07:01:47

Unfortunately for us, there is a large nerve plexus very near where pacemakers are implanted. Sometimes having the pacer put irritates the nerves, which are so ornery, it can take months for them to settle down. It sounds like yours were irritated during your procedure and possibly by where your pacer is sitting. The 'nerve test' is really quite simple and painless. It will tell you and your doctor whether or not the nerves are damaged or irritated in any way based on a impulse conduction readout. I don't think everyone needs the implant under the muscle. It just causes more pain and makes the pacer much harder to get out when it's time to change the batteries, etc. Also reduces risk of the pacer being pulled out of place, etc. by the pectoral muscle. How long have you had the pacemaker? Hopefully, it's just temporary nerve damage and will straighten out on it's own.

Thank you for answering sicksinuslady!

by Stephanie3 - 2013-01-11 08:01:18

I only had mine placed aug 27 2012 but the pain just started a couple weeks ago. And I didn't know it was harder for the pacemaker under the muscle I thought that's where everyone had it placed! Thank you so much for answering and giving me more information!

Placement

by Many Blessings - 2013-01-11 09:01:25

Hi Stephanie,

Like sicksinuslady said, placement under the muscle can be harder to place, change out, and also takes longer to recover from placement.

It was suggested to me that because of numerous heart issues I have, and because I am 100% dependent & paced, that I not have it placed under the muscle (which is what my original request was.) It's just easier for them to get at if something goes wrong, and for change out time. Both sites have pros and cons, it just depends on which is right for you. The doctors may have had a reason for placing yours above the muscle as well. Next time, you can ask to have it under the muscle to see what they say.

I sure hope your symptoms go away soon. And like sicksinuslady said in this case too, it may go away with time. Nerve damage takes some time to heal, and sometimes you get some real weird symptoms from it. Hopefully, that's all it is.

Get well soon!

nerve damage

by Tracey_E - 2013-01-11 10:01:36

The main thing they do for nerve damage is wait it out and see if you get better on your own, sometimes therapy helps. It can't hurt to talk to the neurologist but I'd skip the nerve test for now unless the pain is debilitating. Good luck!! Prayers it gets better on its own soon.

Thank you guys!

by Stephanie3 - 2013-01-11 11:01:17

The pain is there but nothing I can't handle! Hoping it will go away on its own thank you again

Don

by Stephanie3 - 2013-01-12 05:01:39

The pain is by my shoulder pacemaker area and down my left arm. It comes and goes it happens mostly when I use it a lot. It feels numb sharp pains only way I can describe it.. It feels like I have a blood pressure machine on it all the time ... It also wakes me up at night! I don't know what's going on? Do you have any ideas

Pain in left arm?

by donr - 2013-01-12 08:01:32

How about being a bit more specific about where & when & how the pain feels.

We've been through this subject w/ several others.

Perhaps some detail would give us a clue as to what is going on.

Don

On the Road Again

by donr - 2013-01-13 12:01:40

Stephanie: seems like we've been down this road w/ your left arm - earlier in the year?

I had such pains/numbness following an auto accident.

I have ideas - not all of them fit for a mixed audience.

Pls help us all out. Start from the spine (hold the arm w/ the palm against the thigh, thumb forward), just below the top of the shoulder & trace w/ an imaginary finger down three areas on the arm; describe where you have pain as you trace & characterize it: 1) down past the shoulder blade, down the back of the arm all the way to the nail on your pinky. 2) Out across the top of the shoulder & down the outside of the arm all the way to the back of the hand, ending at the nail of the ring finger. 3) Out across the top of the shoulder & down the front of the arm all the way to the nail on your thumb. Add a 4th description of any involvement of your fingers - feel numb or tingly? Exactly which surfaces of which fingers.

Each of these pathways trace certain nerves & describing where the pain is can help someone here give you a idea which one it is.

Last, but not least - can YOU, by positioning or moving the arm or head & neck, influence the pain or its level?

Have you taken this pain & the associated body to a good chiropracter? Some of them can work wonders at determining the origin of spinal associated pains.

If this pain did not come concurrenty w/the surgery or right after it, I'm guessing that it is spinal associated as opposed to surgery associated.

Anyway, let's give this a try.

Don

been having the same problem

by wmommy22 - 2013-01-19 07:01:22

i came looking today to see if anyone else has had the similar problems i've been having.i've been dealing with neck/shoulder/arm pain for atleast 2 weeks all on the side of the pacemaker.i've been putting off going to my heart dr cause i know he will say its nothing.i figured it might be nerves healing(pm 7/12).but i've also been having some chest pains off/on.

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