OK to raise left arm?

Thanks to all of you. I've learned more from this site than the DR. When I left the hospital October 15th I had to ware a sling on my left arm. About 2 weeks later they removed the staples and sling and said not to raise my elbow above shoulder height or lift anything with my left arm. I don't see the DR. till the end of January. Tomorrow it will 8 weeks with the PM and am considering going on the roof to cover vents, etc.. My weight lifting bench is dusty and I would like to start lifting light weights. The DR has never returned a phone call.

3 Comments

call and ask for clarification

by Tracey_E - 2014-12-08 03:12:04

Your restrictions are definitely out there on the conservative side! The sling usually doesn't last more than a few days. Other restrictions (10# weight limit and shoulder high arm) are normally 4-6 weeks, 8 at most. If you have no other health issues and the pacer fixes your heart problems, you should be able to do what you want now so I'd call and ask since your appointment isn't for another month. Don't tackle the weight bench full force the first day back, but you should be able to start easing back into your old routine. If it hurts, back off and try again a few days later.

from the past

by gleesue - 2014-12-08 03:12:40

This is what I wrote once before and I still feel it is relevant.

I got my pacemaker August 2, 2012. I read so much about taking it easy for up to three months and worrying about future activity levels. My Doctor is at the Cleveland Clinic so I think his recommendations should be pretty good. I got back on my exercycle within a week after implantation, of course slow to start with. I started back with light weights in about 3 weeks. Played my first round of golf in just a few days shy of 6 weeks, 9 holes the first day 18 two days later.

My Doc suggested for weight training, using less weight and doing more reps to begin with. His best advice was, IF IT HURTS DON'T DO IT. I exercise 5-6 days a week, 3 days of cardio and 3 days of weights. I also play golf, tennis, bike, hike, and swim, coach 2 soccer teams and really like to jet ski. I also like the calmer side of life, fishing and a glass of wine and a cigar.

I hardly know I have a PM anymore. I got it primarily because of Bradycardia. Had to get cardioverted because of an arrhythmia and my heart started going 6 – 10 seconds between heart beats. I had to get cardioverted again about a month ago. The PM is great for going to slow but won't prevent an arrhythmia. My Doc said, at least we got 9 months out of you. I'€™ve probably been cardioverted around 35 times.

It did take a few adjustments at first to get it working right for my activity level. I did have the racing when I went up a flight of stairs, but was told it takes a few seconds before my PM realizes I'm doing something physical and may start up when I'm actually done, thus a little racing.

I don'€™t want to keep going because I'€™m getting a little long. But this is to let you know that basically you can do anything you did before the PM after PM implantation. Heavy contact sports can be a little questionable though.

I really didn'€™t want to get a PM because I thought my life would change and I guess it did, for the better. The best advice I can give to you that are concerned or apprehensive is, not to worry you will be better than ever. By the way I'€™m no spring chicken. I'm 66 and the way I feel I should be around at 96.
So let the machine do its job, enjoy life and live long.

Jerry

Standard time

by Theknotguy - 2014-12-08 03:12:57

Standard time for the arm is 4-6 weeks that you can't raise the elbow above the shoulder. You have to give your body time to incorporate the leads. After that you can do pretty much what you want.

I'll let weight lifters chime in on what is acceptable. I don't do that so am hesitant to make a comment. Question in my mind is repetitive heavy lifting and effect on leads. Haven't heard any cons on the issue but I'd still be guessing. Would like to see what weight lifters say.

Due to trauma, I had to hold off for five months. Did light exercise at first - 3 to 5 pound weights. Tossed the ball underhanded. After a year, have no problem lifting 4x8 sheets of melamine at 90 pounds per sheet. Usually do it with another person but was sliding them around on the table saw this AM. No problem. Can also toss the ball as hard as I want on the PM side with no problems either. But I wouldn't try out for a big league pitcher, just toss the ball for the dog.

The biggest thing before everything healed was pulling the leads. They'd hurt like hell. So I'd back off what I was doing. In one case, had to hold off for six weeks but no problems now.

After I got active, next biggest problem was the PM pocket. It would sometimes feel like I had a knife sharp disk in there instead of a PM. Water, tylenol, and rest until the pain went down. Now I can do just about anything I want. Occasionally forget I have the PM then have to do a mental check to see if everything is OK.

I'd hold off on going up on the roof to cover vents until you know how steady you are. Because of the change in medications I discovered my balance is out of whack. So I hire an insured professional to do that. If he breaks his neck, his wife gets to live in a lifestyle to which she'd like to become accustomed. My wife told me she'd spent 40+ years training me and doesn't want to see all the hard work take a nose dive off the roof. Not to mention she won't get that much insurance.

Hope you can get back into exercising.

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