Pacemaker Pocket Pain

Hi All
I had a battery replacement in July this year. All went well a nd the wound healed....no problems. Recently as of 10 days ago I am experiencing acute pain in the pacemaker site....no other symptoms....checking online it seems like pacemaker pocket pain. What has caused this? I was on a 12 hour flight back from HK after which pain got worse...was that the reason? Do we have to live with this forever- does it go away? Any answers- anybody? Am so miserable.
S

5 Comments

sudden pain

by Tracey_E - 2013-11-12 05:11:01

You might want to get it looked at to rule out infection. Usually there are other signs like swelling, oozing, streaks, fever, but sudden pain should be checked out asap. On the off chance it is infection, you want to treat it quickly and aggressively.

Did you do something to aggravate it? I've done that a few times, trying something new at the gym, once we got a new game on the Wii and my sister and I went overboard boxing (we were a little too enthralled with being able to punch each other in the head without mom yelling. Yes, we are 44 and 47 lol)

Ice may help

pain

by shal - 2013-11-12 05:11:13

Hi Tracey
Thanks for your comment- the strange thing is I don't think I did anything out of the ordinary- no outwardly signs of oozing, swelling or fever. Its all very strange - and its worst when I lie down....in any position.... am going to the surgeon tomorrow...not sure what he can do as there is nothing to "see". It all looks normal...but feels like hell :-( I know the age factor. Am 48 myself......not getting any younger. S

PE

by Tick-tock - 2013-11-12 07:11:55

Do you have increased shortness of breath when you lay down? You said you have increased pain with this position. Your signs and symptoms are a bit vague, but the chest pain, and increased pain with lying, are symptoms of a pulmonary embolism; in which case get seen ASAP. Hope it's just some discomfort from irritating it somehow. Keep us posted

Pain

by Richtx - 2013-11-12 08:11:30

Having been a pacer rep for the past 23 years I have some experience with this. The oozing thing would be from a perforation and infection which is an emergency but doesn't sound like the problem since everything looks good. Many times after a device change and the pocket has healed the wires are now in a different position in the pocket and now have scared down and are pulling when you move in certain ways. Can you feel the wires when you feel the pacer sight? Sometimes it's just the way the new device was put in the pocket and the the way the wires were wrapped and also placed back in. Not that the Doc did anything wrong it's just the way it scared. You have to understand the you have about 6" of extra wire in the pocket. Move your arm around and see if it gets worse. Hold the pacemaker and move it slightly and see if that causes pain. I'm sure the pain is like you are being stabbed at the sight, right?

continuing pain

by shal - 2013-11-15 06:11:25

hi All
I had a consultation and my surgeon rekons the nerves are growing back and hence the pain and sensitivity - he could not find any signs of an infection. There is no fever or anything. He says it may take up to 6 months to settle and I have to manage the pain with over the counter remedies/hot water bottle.......

am really peeved by this - but don't seem to have any other options....other than to live with the pain...for now.
S

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I am 100% pacemaker dependant and have been all my life. I try not to think about how a little metal box keeps me alive - it would drive me crazy. So I lead a very active life.