Pain in back and lower hip increasing

Hi All. Merry Christmas Eve. I posted a couple of evenings ago that I am a new PM wearer having the device (a Medtronic) implanted last Monday (today is 24th). Here's where I'm having problems. I have had for years chronic lower hip and back problems due to improper alignment, therefore I'm very familiar with all symptoms and pain sources. When I was released from hospital on the 20th I had lower back/hip pain and severe stiffness which I attributed to lying flat on my back for so long. The pain continued once home and every day, even when I walk my dog, I have pain. However, the pain is now increasing and whenever I stand or move about I'm in a great deal of pain. I have never experienced this level of back pain. It was suggested that it might be related to the PM sending electricity through my body and aggravating my condition. Has anyone else experienced anything similar? I will appreciate any comments. Thanks and Merry to all. Charles in Houston, Texas.

5 Comments

PM And Back Ache

by Tommy-2 - 2011-12-24 10:12:48

Charles,.

I can sympathize with you on the lower back pain. I've had it since an early age and I think the alignment thing you mentioned is called spondylosis, or at least mine is, and yes it hurts like hell. I also agree that lying on your back may have aggravated the problem, or at least let me sleep in my back one night and my pain the next day will be something to behold. However my pain from lying on my back does slowly improve.

Now your comment about the pacemaker sending electricity through my body and aggravating my condition can't happen. Of course the PM sends very low voltage to your heart VIA two tiny wires. It is true for some people, some of that voltage may escape and stimulate a nerve and that pain will feel like a small electrical shock or give them the hiccups or some other surprise, but a back ache it will not cause. I will tell you the only relief I have found for my backache is steroid injections in my back. But even that is maybe will and maybe not.

For some of us PMs can cause problems in ways you haven't even thought of yet, but a back ache is not likely to be one of them.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Tommy

Back pain

by Pookie - 2011-12-24 11:12:37

just a guess, but obviously due to being on our back during the surgery - it probably aggravated your already chronic condition. I wonder if they were nice enough to put the pillow under your knees to take some of the pressure off of your back while you were being operated on.

I too have back pain and sciatica issues now. I have had steroid shots, I have a hot tub I use every night, then I apply a prescription strength ointment (Voltaren) that helps reduce the pain. I can't take certain pain pills because of my stomach issues.

I also have weekly massages and see a chiropractor. I also do little exercises at home and believe it or not walking is the best fix/answer for me....at first I thought it was making it worse, but as time went on, my pain lessened.

I have to agree with Tommy, I don't think your PM can be causing you more pain in your back, but I think the way you were placed on the operating table could have been the culprit.

However, with that being said, anything is possible.

What kind of things do you do or take to help with your pain?

Pookie

Heart Cath

by ElectricFrank - 2011-12-25 01:12:31

That raises another completely different issue. It's possible that you could have picked up an infection where the cath was inserted.

Just a thought although the thing of having your legs extended is more likely. I've also had back trouble and in fact had surgery back in the 1980's. I know what it feels like and it's not fun. I was one of the unusual ones where the back surgery for a bad disk solved the problem. I had an excellent surgeon who wouldn't operate until he was absolutely sure he knew the source of the problem. I was also unusual that I had almost zero pain from the surgery.

best of luck with it,

frank

Pain in back and lower hip increasing

by cburton1 - 2011-12-25 01:12:42

Thanks to all for your comments. Like I said I've lived with this condition of pain in my left hip and sciatica for all of my adult life but have never experienced it to this degree. Responding to Pookie's observation, I did not request a pillow under my knees because prior to the insertion of the PM my doctor performed a heart cath to determine that I had no significant blockage (I had open heart surgery about 23 years ago). Since entry was at my groin I had to have my legs extended. Once back in the hospital bed I made a point of keeping the bed elevated below my knees, however I still think that was the source of my problem as I was unable to stand to relieve my back pressure or to shift my body in the bed very much. Again, thanks everyone, you've helped me to at least rule out the PM as being a source of the pain.

Ouch!!!

by donr - 2011-12-26 08:12:29

Back pain is a royal pain! Doesn't take much to trigger it. I have it, also. Very similar to Pookie. All it takes to trigger several DAYS of mine is one night on the wrong mattress - or having my legs laid out w/o a pillow under my knees.

This is MOST LIKELY not the M, it's al the other things you mentioned.

Don

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