Shoulder pain postoperative 5-6 weeks postop

Hurts worse than my open heart surgery when I first get up, during the day the pain lessens. Taking Advil now Tylenol did not help at all. Pain is especially worse on the top of the shoulder and incision. The Drs said I could travel by air to my new home miles away. Since I have the pain is worse. Any thought. I will need to get new doctors since I am too far from where they put it in.

2 Comments

Massage therapist OK

by Theknotguy - 2014-12-27 11:12:13

Have been seeing my licensed massage therapist for several years now. Got a prescription from my cardiologist after I received my PM so my therapist was covered by her insurance. She went back to her instructors and instructional manuals to study how to do therapy on people with pacemakers and other medical equipment.

I've had absolutely no problems because of massage therapy. Key word is therapy. She has been able to get rid of quite a few aches and pains due to trauma I received from CPR. It has been a tremendous help in my recovery. Mostly her work has been aimed at relaxation and pain relief. She has not worked on any areas that could cause problems with either my PM or my separated shoulder.

During cardio rehab I also did some physical therapy due to injuries sustained from CPR. Therapists told me the no-pain, no-gain type of therapy was obsolete. If I left the session hurting, they didn't do their job correctly. Sessions were aimed at recovering full motion prior to injury. Walked out of several sessions very tired, but pain was minimal with maximum recovery. Unfortunately there isn't too much they can do about bone spurs, but the physical rehab was great.

I've had nurses who can't start IV's. Had doctors try to tell me my afib can be "cured". Have had medical people who should have known better give me bad information while trying to make me believe it is medical fact. In short, you have to be your own advocate and be aware of what information you are getting, who is doing the medical procedure, and be willing to yell STOP! when they are doing something you don't want them to do.

Hope you can get some relief quickly.

Shoulder. Pain

by Mini - 2014-12-27 12:12:35


I had my PM under 5 weeks ago. I have been repeatedly
Told by my cardiologist to move my affected arm sideway
And backward to stop frozen shoulder.--as long as Not
Above your head--you are pulling your PM leads.
I hope this is helpful

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Life does not stop with a pacemaker, even though it caught me off guard.