pain and trouble moving left arm

Hello I am new here I just had my pacemaker put in almost two weeks ago and still having a lot of pain it feels hard all around my pacemaker and when I try to use my left arm it hurts really bad and feels like something in my chest is going to snap when I try to raise my arm I cannot even do my hair and going back to work this week. Has anyone had anything similar and how long until you can use your arm. Thanks, Jen

3 Comments

Me too!

by Minnesota - 2013-09-14 07:09:36

Hey Jen. I am 2 wks PO also and still have quite a bit of pain and discomfort. It is still so early. We need to give the healing process time. People heal at different rates and some may feel better by 2 weeks while others , like us, need several weeks. This is my second time around in 3 months to go through recovery as my first implant had to be removed due to infection. I had the same slow recovery with PM #1.

I too have serious hair issues. Can't do a whole lot with arm restrictions. In my case, both left and right sides have incisions now so needless to say I am having some bad hair days. But it is so minor compared to the issues I had with bradycardia. If rather have bed head than hr of 30 bpm.

Usually At 4-6 weeks, but depending on your docs instruction, you can use arm above shoulder again. Be sure to find out when your doc says you are cleared . Til then, to help ease the frozen, painful shoulder you might try tipping forward a bit and letting your arm hang down and do small circles from the shoulder joint. Don't raise it higher than shoulder level and easy slow movements. I kept mine a lot lower than shoulder. This is what my reg doc had me do as my shoulder was so sore. It's very important to follow doctor instructions regarding arm use so you don't disrupt the leads.

Give it time and take care.

arm movement

by Tracey_E - 2013-09-14 07:09:51

Don't lift anything heavy and don't raise it higher than shoulder level, but other than that it's important to move it normally NOW so it doesn't freeze up. If the pain is excessive, call your doc, that is not normal.

Thank yyou

by jennifer78 - 2013-09-16 05:09:56

Thanks so much for your responses! Tracey thanks for the advise I have been doing the exercises you mentioned for a couple days now and already notice a big change and less pain. Thank you!!!!!!

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