ADVISE NEEDED!

I recently had a pace maker put in late October. I am now experiencing shoulder pain. I am seeing a chiropractor and it does not seem to be helping. I am also seeing a neurologist and that is not helping either. Any suggestions where to go to next. I want to be pain free and get back to my life!

I also have dizziness most likely due to the pain in my shoulder. I am using cremes and icy hot pads on a daily basis and doing exercises, but nothing is helping.

Dayna

3 Comments

Alternative suggestions

by Theknotguy - 2014-01-03 08:01:07

Dayna

You have your work cut out for yourself.

I got my PM on October 8th so am about the same time frame as you. I had a lot of trauma as I had a
broken rib, collapsed lung, a chest tube, and the PM. I was also in a medically induced coma for
six days. So in addition to the trauma I had to deal with the weakness from being in intensive care.

I had pain that went up into my jaw from the leads going into the vein under my collar bone. I also
had pain in my back directly behind the PM pocket. Then, of course the pain from the broken rib and
the chest tube. I was also sore from them pounding on me while doing CPR.

So, several things for you to do. I don't know if you lead a sedentary lifestyle, but you're going to have to get moving. It's even more pain at first, but you should start feeling better. Also some of your pain may be from depression so you should start treating for that. Anyway...

1) Hydrate: I had 1/2 liter of water per 33 pounds of body weight per day. You don't think water makes a difference but it does.

2) Mild heat: Use either a bath towel or a beach towel and sleep on that at night. If you sleep on a heating pad it will dry out the muscles and make you feel worse. The towel has just enough nap to keep you warm without drying out the muscles. Put the towel where it will keep the upper back and neck warm.

3) Tylenol: Take some, not a lot. It will help take care of the overt pain.

4) Massage therapist: Find a good licensed massage therapist. They can relieve pressure on muscles that are causing pain. For me, the pain in my back was caused by suboccipital muscles. So when the massage therapist caused those muscles to relax the pain behind my PM went away.

5) Stretching exercises: My therapists had me do stretching exercises. I found out if I could do stretching exercises before starting exercise it would reduce pain.

6) Exercise: If you haven't started an exercise program, start one. I was in a lot of pain as I mentioned before. The first two weeks were pretty bad but I started feeling a lot better and am mostly pain free now.

7) Treat for depression: Another problem you may be experiencing is depression. I'd see if some of the symptoms you are experiencing may be due to depression.

8) Medication: Some people have problems with medication. You may be experiencing that too. So
you may want to check that out with your cardiologist.

I'm not sure if any one of these suggestions will help or not. But since you're in the same timeframe as myself hopefully something will help.

I agree with Angry Sparrow - if the current people aren't helping you, stop seeing them and start on a different solution.

Hope this helps.

Theknotguy

Slow down

by shirley d - 2014-01-04 03:01:21

This may have nothing at all to do with the PM. It may be frozen shoulder, but there might be a tendon tear or rotator cuff injury, which you can get from just repetitive motion, Need a sonar, then a diagnosis, then a treatment plan.
That said - make sure, if anyone wants to give you a nerve block they know what they are doing.
Final word: Get the diagnosis then try to find a good shoulder pyisio as AS said

ruling out

by tbardakjian - 2014-01-04 08:01:12

Have the doctors ruled out a blood clot? I had my pm/defib device put in June 2013 and I kept telling the cardiac people that it hurt...July 31...they finally did an ultrasound and I have a blood clot. If there is a reduced blood flow that can cause dizziness as well as meds. Check with your cardio Dr. Also I was told to NOT use an electric heating pad. I agree with what the others said as well as to PT

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