Swelling in left arm

Get help soon

by Theknotguy - 2014-01-16 10:01:05

Get yourself checked out ASAP. It sounds like a deep vein blood clot. Something is going on and it's not good.

Theknotguy

Advice !

by Selwyn - 2014-01-17 01:01:14

Be reassured if the ultrasound is normal, a blood clot has not occurred.
Sometimes the lymphatic drainage is a bit obstructed due to surgical trauma.
There are exercises that can be done to help shift the fluid. A physiotherapist will be able to instruct you.
Massage of the fluid from the fingers to shoulder helps.
Elevation periods helps - this is traditionally done with a sling, so that the elbow is about shoulder hight and the arm is vertical. ( you need a stand to fasten the sling to)
You have had your pacemaker over 6 weeks and now should be OK. If it causes problems stop.
You can also get mild compression sleeving for the arm.
Chances are the problem will settle with time.
Here in the UK we have specialist nurses dealing with the problem as it is not uncommon after breast surgery for cancer.

Advice Encouraging

by Venezia56 - 2014-01-17 02:01:02

Thanks Selwyn for the encouraging advice. You gave me a lot more info than doctors here.

Ezio

pacemaker

by ashley - 2014-08-15 01:08:43

I am 59, had a pacemaker put in on Oct.21 2013 and in November I started swelling, first left arm, left breast, left side of my face, left eye, the hole left side of my body. And you won't believe this but even the left side of my penis. Five Dr's have not fingered it out yet. I am going to a lymphedema PT on Monday (8/18/14) to see what she says. I thing the Dr. cut of damage me lymphodic system when he installed the pacemaker. Anyone agree!

Swelling in left arm due to pacemaker lead

by Melpace - 2019-06-22 11:54:42

I see that this is an old thread, but it is relevant to me so I will post and see if it helps anyone else.  

I am a 66 year old male who had a pacemaker installed for a slow heartbeat in 2014.  I am a heart attack survivor with Atrial Fibrillation so am on eliquis.  I am generally active and healthy and have had not complications, work out on my elliptical, walk many steps in a day, lift weights in circuit training.  I have been very active recently and noticed that my left forearm got very red when I lifted weight and the noticed a slight swelling in my hand and forearm.  This lasted a few weeks and then one morning noticed my forearm, hand, fingers were very swollen with some tingling like numbness in my fingers.  I cannot wear my watch or wedding ring.  My PCP sent me for an ultrasound and the DVT (blood clot) came back normal. My PCP then sent me to a vascular surgeon.

Basically the vascular surgeon determined my outward flow of blood is good into the arm and hand, but my return flow back to the heart is hampered which explains the swelling and redness. He told the cause is the lead of my pacemaker irritating the inside of the major return vein with essentially scar tissue or platelet aggregation blocking the flow. The other subsidiary (smaller) veins are trying to pick up the slack hence the redness. I asked how often he sees this condition and he said he sees it in about 20% of the people with inserts like pacemakers and catheters. As far as fixing it, there is not any real viable option. If it weren’t something as major as a pacemaker and were simply a catheter, that could be readily moved and would fix the problem. Taking out the pacemaker and replacing the leads wouldn’t solve the problem. Moving the pacemaker to my right side may help temporarily, but I may end up in the same place in the future plus that would be a big step for something he feels is not threatening as long as I stay on Eliquis. He would be concerned about blot clotting if I was not on Eliquis. Ablation would only help me if it resulted in me not needing a pacemaker anymore which is questionable given my slow heartbeat (Brach cardia). So, his recommendation is to live with it. I asked if I can continue things like weight lifting, pushups, carrying water buckets, and the other stuff I do. He said it would be better to avoid strenuous activities with my left arm that could further irritate the problem.

I am happy that my condition is not major or life threatening, but on the other hand I am not pleased that I now have a condition limiting my physical activities.  I also question how I am going to stay physically strong.

I have a follow-up with my electro physiologist and will post again if something majorly healpful comes out of it.  Hope this helps anyone out there with similar problems.  
 

Same thing is happening to me.

by jackfrost7 - 2019-10-14 00:42:02

Any exercise or activity and my left arms swells a little and turns red a little. I haven't been to the doctor about it yet. I am going soon will post follow up soon. Elevation for several seconds helps a bit.

Pacer is 2 weeks old today.

by Betsy A - 2020-09-12 00:09:19

And tonight I'm noticing that my left arm is swollen and darker in color.  I notice a slight size difference at the beginning but the color change is new.  I'm reassured by reading this thread. I've had an anxiety problem since this heart stuff started In the early spring.  This finding just put it through the roof again.  I don't think I need to run to the ER but will put a call in to m my doc.  I'm glad to find this thread!