PM pouch

On the treadmill the other day I noticed a "stinging" sensation around my PM/ICD area. It did not feel anything like what was described in the Medtronic literature --- it felt more like a tiny pin was poking me in that area. EP nurse later stated my PM can move around in that pouch just under my skin, and it may have ended up in an area that irritated some nerves. I got off the treadmill, and onto other equipment with no recurrence of the pain.

--Dave--

5 Comments

PM and healing

by Theknotguy - 2015-08-25 04:08:03

Depending upon the type of exercise and how your body reacts to the PM as a foreign object it can cause different sensations within the PM pocket and surrounding area. Some people say they get pin pricks, others say they get "ant bites". It just depends.

I went back to doing work at a woodshop. Had to lift heavy pieces of wood. First few months back I'd get the pinpricks as I would lift wood pieces. Other times I'd get a stretching feeling in the PM scar area. Other times I'd be moving wood and would "pinch" the PM between my shoulder and my rib cage. All would sometimes cause pain. Sometimes it would be pinpricks, other times a sharp pain from the stretching, and other times it would feel like I had a large 50 cent piece under my skin with sharp edges. Most of the time the pain would be gone within 24 hours. Depending upon what I did, sometimes the pain and stiffness wouldn't go away for a few days. Now, after a year, I rarely have sore spots. Of course, if I push it too hard or lift too much....

Warm and cold compresses, heating pads, Tylenol, and aspirin were my friends. My wife kept asking why I didn't let the young guys do the work. I told her, "I AM the young guy!" Ah well.

Sounds like you're progressing well. Hope everything continues to go well.

It's the nerves healing

by Grateful Heart - 2015-08-25 04:08:19


Not everyone feels it. I didn't feel it with my original implant but I did after a lead revision surgery. To me, it felt like ant bites....they are sharp and hurt and then it goes away.

It's not the treadmill. They may come and go for a few weeks or months but they will subside.

Grateful Heart

2 different pains

by Grateful Heart - 2015-08-25 04:08:30


One is a pinch between your device and skin due to movement.....the other is the stinging, tiny pin poke feeling that Dave described....I've had both.

Grateful Heart

Very Common Sensation

by Artist - 2015-08-25 06:08:06

A lot of members including me, have mentioned the stinging, ant bite like sensations around their PM. This is thought to be caused by the trauma that occurred to the nerves in the area when the pocket is cut out and the PM is inserted. The sensations gradually subside for most people and sometimes completely disappear. I am 9 months post op and rarely feel that stinging sensation anymore.

Thanks, gang!

by Dave H - 2015-08-26 02:08:40

I'm 7 months post procedure, and this event was the first of its type. My device clinic nurse stated, "If it was the ICD firing, you'd KNOW it!"

--Dave--

You know you're wired when...

You make store alarms beep.

Member Quotes

At age 20, I will be getting a pacemaker in few weeks along with an SA node ablation. This opportunity may change a five year prognosis into a normal life span! I look forward to being a little old lady with a wicked cane!