post pacemaker problem

leg and arm/shoulder/chest/hand pain .experienced these pains after pacemaker insertion.in fact had great difficulty walking for several weeks with shoulder pain and restriction.put on steroids .am still on lower dose of steroids 6 months later.my legs have significantly improved .the arms shoulder chest/hand pain still exists with good days occasionally.i go to cardiac rehab two days a week and improvement is extremely slow,but i am hoping for 90 percent improvement by this october,one year after insertion of the pacemaker. anyone else have similar problems and how have they handled them. wally

5 Comments

Post pacemaker problem

by Rhonda - 2012-05-10 07:05:00

Wally,
I had my pacemaker implanted a year ago in Feb and have been having problems as well. I had arm pain and what I describe as rubber arms. Anytime I do anything over my head for any length of time my arms turn to rubber. I did not have leg pain but still a year and 3 months later I still have trouble walking or standing for any length of time.I have been having breathing problems which I thought at first was just because I needed to build up endurance. I have been going to pt three times a week. Any type of exercise while standing (ex: stair stepper) and they make me sit down because I am gasping for air. It is increasingly getting worse.
I have had 3 ekgs in 6 weeks and had my pacer checked by pacemaker rep. twice. The pacer seems to be working fine.
Next week they are sending me in for a lung function test and also another stress test. Do you have any breathing problems when you exert?

Could be a minor stroke

by ElectricFrank - 2012-05-11 01:05:32

I don't want to scare you, but a very small clot broken from the leads being inserted or even the condition that caused the pacer to implanted.

This sort of thing is very rare, but can happen.

frank

post pacemaker problem

by wally - 2012-05-11 10:05:17

rhonda-i have had the problems with my arms/shoulders/wrists/hands .raising my arms above my shoulders is very painfull.my right arm is especially to use.one of my suspicians is that because my right arm was very involved athletically that when the pacemaker/leads were inserted on the right side the doctor had to actually constantly pound the pacemaker in to the shoulder area apparently causing some damage which i am slowly healing.my legs got better in about 2 months and are still inproveing every week.it looks like i may have to go to additional therapy for my arms.i do go to cardiac rehab twice a week but i think i need additional help with my arms.keep me posted on how your therapy is coming along. wally

post pacemaker problm

by Rhonda - 2012-05-21 04:05:21

Hi Wally,
Iwent in for my lung function test last week and they called today and said the results were negitive.I assume that means my lungs are normal. I went in today for my second stress test. This time they just tested my blood pressure and heart whileI was on the treadmill. Iwas only able to walk 3.11 minutes before I was gasping for air.
SinceIhave been going to therapy I do feel like my arms have improved some what. I especially feel that the water therapy has helped the most. How is your therapy going?? Do you feel like you are improvingany since you have been going to therapy?

post pacemaker arm trouble

by fiddlerpaul - 2013-09-04 07:09:47

I have been having arm trouble as well similar to wally. Pain that began in a small way soon after insertion (5 months ago) just behind my left shoulder opposite the pacemaker and radiating down my arm depending on how I twist or lift my arm. Very excruciating and no other known cause.
A strange thing is I've become aware of an arching object under my skin just above the pacemaker over the last month or so which I don't recall being aware of. Sort of like a thick hard electrical wire with bumps on it. Not sure if that is related or not. Am going to doctor tomorrow and then physio.

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