pacemaker pain

Hello all
A quick question/concern to ask, I've had my pacemaker for 4 years now, 100% paced and up until now things have gone more or less ok. About a week ago the area around the pacemaker( it was implanted in my upper left chest area) has become very sensitive to the point that even if my shirt touches it it hurts and I'm also experiencing pain around the edges of the PM as well as pain going down into my armpit. The pain/sensitivity is not present all the time but i do have episodes throughout the day on an ongoing basis. Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated, thanks
Benj

3 Comments

get it checked

by Tracey_E - 2013-04-15 05:04:19

Get it checked out with the cardiologist as well as GP in case it's not the pm that's the root of the problem. It's very rare but it's possible to develop an infection or allergy years later.

Have you done something different that could aggravate the scar tissue? Once mine started bothering me out of the blue (or so I thought) then I thought back and it started about the time we got the sports game for Wii and my sister and I way too into boxing (punching each other in the head and mom not yelling even though we're both in our 40's? priceless!). Lawn work for spring, something new at the gym? Things like that can aggravate it and are harmless.

Agreed... Get it checked

by Lisarose - 2013-04-15 05:04:45

Hello Benj
I agree with TraceyE...
Something is different and that is the key, You will feel better if this is investigated.
Take care and keep in touch,
Lisarose

update

by benj - 2013-04-19 01:04:38

Thanks for the comments, very much appreciated.

Actually thinking back on it i may have lifted something too heavy at work so that could very well be the cause.

I did go see my cardiologist but he was only concerned that the PM was functioning properly(which it was) so he has referred me to the surgeon that put in the unit to see if I need to have the PM put into a different location. I'm hoping its just a muscle tweek and needs time to heal (its been two weeks now and is still not right) I don't want another surgery if it can be helped.

Thanks again
Benj

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