Post Implant Exercise

4 days to PM day! It suddenly occurred to me that I did not ask my EP exactly what his prescription for post PM activities will be. I think I remember him saying that after 2 months I could do 'pretty much anything'. I am not a body builder by any means but I hope the usual weight machines in the gym are not going to be off limits after, say, 2 months.

I have one question: I have read all the advice in here about taking it easy post PM to avoid fracturing leads. Does this refer just to the area around the chest where the implant is situated or are we talking about the leads in the arteries (veins?). Can exercise affect the leads in the path to the heart and if so, how does a rest period help? Thanks

5 Comments

Exercise

by turboz24 - 2008-01-07 02:01:24

The rest period is there to give the vein (where the leads enter) and the heart (where the leads are attached) to sufficiently heal. Well, more like scar over to hold the leads in place.

Each EP has a different comment on how long. Mine told me 2 weeks, so I went straight back to heavy weight lifting after just 2 weeks. Some have been told 4 weeks, some 6, and like you, some 8 weeks.

Each Doc has something different to say. Mine knows I'm an avid weight lifter and didn't seem to have any concerns. Some seem to be a little more concerned about specific exercise. I've heard some actually suggest not doing any incline bench or shoulder work either, but then again it depends on the EP.

I have an ICD, so it's not in the same location as your PM probably, though. mine sits directly ontop of my left pec (right out in the open basically). I understand that a lot of PM's are placed up almost under the collar bone.

It varies...

by dward - 2008-01-07 02:01:59

I agree with turboz24 completely.
The difference in the healing times can depend on several things - your Doctor, your age, your weight, your general health, your fitness, etc.
Just be sure to:
1) Ask the question about how long to take it easy, and
2) Take that time to heal properly.

Good luck to you, it will be fine.

You mean for lead fracture?

by turboz24 - 2008-01-07 06:01:43

"Is it the area around the unit in the area of the pocket or incision that the doctors are concerned about?"

I would assume you are asking where are they most worried about fracture. I would guess that they are most worried about the area where the lead penetrates the muscle, and heads towards the vein. But I would imagine it has a lot do to with how the lead is routed.

I did mention to my EP that I could always stop working out, drop 45 lbs, and go back to my "static" weight of 150 and 6' tall. It would only take me 1.5 months to do that, but he didn't seem to like that idea much. I'm a person of extremes. If I can't do it all out, I don't see a point to even do it at all. I also workout just for me, which is good because I'm hyper sensitive of my ICD (I never look at it and never go without a shirt, even threw out my athletic fit shirts).

My implant hurts the most on odd exercises like bicep barbell curls, really don't notice anything on flat/incline/ or pec deck. And yes, after almost 4 months it still occassionally hurts, it's like it's going "You can ignore me by never looking at me, but I'm still here."

Fracture.. where?

by axg9504 - 2008-01-07 06:01:50

I meant to ask: Is it the area around the unit in the area of the pocket or incision that the doctors are concerned about? Can one have a fractured lead that is downstream from the unit, say closer to the heart, solely due to exercise? I can understand how the leads connected to the PM can tear away if you stress it before it settles down, but does the lead that is enclosed by the vein need a settling in period? How can it be affected by exercise? Thanks.

turboz..

by axg9504 - 2008-01-07 06:01:55

You must have a confident EP. I would imagine that shoulder exercises like lat pulldowns, pec decks etc would be the greatest stress. I have a small tear in my right rotator cuff area so bench presses or cable rows are out till I get that fixed (more surgery unless I can learn to work around exercises that cause problems)

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