Restricted movement and some pain 4 months later

• by ArchGirl09
• 2013-10-16 07:10:27
• Surgery & Recovery
• 1476 views
• 2 comments

Hello. I've had a pacemaker all my life (I'm 27) due to complications with a congenital heart defect. However, up until I had my current device implanted in June of this year, it was in my abdomen - this is because they couldn't put it in my chest as a newborn and I've just had the others put in the same place. However, I decided to have my current device put in the left side of my chest in case we decide to have children in the next 7 or so years. This of course involved putting in the leads as well. I was told I couldn't lift my arm past my shoulder or lift anything over 10 lbs for a month - that all went fine and I started to get my range of motion back in my arm and shoulder after my restrictions were lifted.

I ended up back in the hospital after about 6 weeks with an infection that appeared to be superficial - they gave me IV antibiotics followed by a 2 week course of oral antibiotics. Everything seemed fine - the incision site looked normal (it was only around my new one), the pain lessened, and I could move my arm more again, so they determined they wouldn't need to remove the pacemaker. So here I am now...

About a week or so ago I started having more pain again - general soreness in my chest which I first attributed to a lingering cough I had from a cold. I still have the cough, but now my shoulder and surrounding chest muscles feel tighter on the one side, and I can't lift my arm as high anymore, at least not without some pain. Even if I ignore the pain, I just physically can't lift my arm up much more than a 45 degree angle. This makes it difficult to take off shirts that aren't button-down, for one thing. Even when I am not stretching my arm it feels like something is pulling between my arm, shoulder, and chest. It's a weird feeling. I don't know what all this means - the limited range of motion (and the fact that my range of motion has decreased again recently), the pain, the pulling. Is it the leads? Is it normal and I just need to give it more time? I haven't felt the pulling or anything like this with the devices that were in my abdomen. Also, my veins on the side with the pacer are bluer or more visible....I don't know what this means either. I should probably call my doctor, but I don't get the feeling that he cares very much and will probably think I'm worrying too much because of the infection. On the other hand, I really don't want to be stuck with this for the rest of my life, or until I need another pacemaker. I'm already regretting having it moved. Sorry this is so long - I thought I should give as much info as possible and I also wanted to get my thoughts/feelings out there too. Thanks for listening, and I'd appreciate any info or advice anyone has regarding my situation.