Restrictions to arm lifting

Hi-New member here. I'm a 43 year old female who had her first pacer implant this past Friday (1/16/15) for symptomatic bradycardia and multiple syncopal episodes. Recovery is going well so far, but I'm still unclear on how high I can raise my arm on the implant side? Can I raise my upper arm to a 90 degree angle to my body? The nurse just said, "not above your head for two weeks", but I'm seeing conflicting info on the internet. Thank you all. I am glad this forum is here!

7 Comments

As one member said

by Theknotguy - 2015-01-20 01:01:49

As one member said the biggest problems you have in the first few weeks with the PM is people who give you information, people who give you mis-information, and attack cats. Point being there is a lot of mis-information out there and it is sometimes hard to separate fact from fiction and reality from cloud cuckoo land. I tell people about 80% of what I heard about PM's was wrong and most of that came from people in the medical field who should have known better. There was mis-information on the discharge papers I received from the hospital when I left after receiving the PM.

General consensus is that you don't raise your elbow on the PM side above the shoulder for the first 4-6 weeks. You don't pick up anything heavier than a gallon of milk with the same arm for the first 4-6 weeks. The 4-6 week period may be conservative, but you want to give your body time to grow around the leads, heal the PM pocket wound, and give the lead tips time to integrate into the heart. If you forget and raise your arm or if you forget and lift a gallon of milk, don't get excited, just don't do it on a regular basis. Anything you do that may cause a problem will hurt enough to let you know. So if it isn't hurting or you aren't running a fever, it probably isn't a problem.

Other things.... There is nothing in the typical USA, UK, or Canadian house that will bother the PM - especially the new ones. So you don't have to worry about microwave ovens, refrigerator magnets, vacuum sweepers, fitbits, car remotes, laptop computers, etc. You also don't have to worry about store security devices, airport security checkpoints, and things along those lines. Most things that would bother the PM are in industrial settings and most people don't get into those areas.

You will want to keep the arm moving during the 4-6 weeks. If you don't you can get a frozen shoulder. Something that is painful to work through after you've gotten it but it isn't life threatening.

At the 4-6 week period you can start into regular exercise. You just have to be careful because you haven't been active for a while. Once again, if there isn't a sharp pain, or you aren't running a fever, you probably won't have to worry.

You may need a period of "tweaking" after you've gotten the PM. It may take the EP two or three times (or more) to get the settings right.

You may also experience some unusual feelings while your body and heart adjust to the PM and life with the PM. All normal.

I can do 99.999% of the things I did before I got my PM. I'm about 99.999% of the strength I was before the PM. So it really hasn't hindered my life. If anything, I no longer have to worry about my heart quitting (like it did) at an inconvenient moment. So I don't think of the PM as a hindrance at all.

Hopefully the PM has solved some problems for you, you'll start to feel better, and you'll be able to get on with your life.

Post Op Instructions

by Artist - 2015-01-20 01:01:54

I was told to not lift my arm above my shoulder or reach behind my back for 30 days. Weight lifting was restricted to 10 lbs. for the first two weeks and 20 lbs. during weeks 3 and 4. Increase activities slowly. In my case sutures were still working their way out of the wound for six weeks. I am two and 1/2 months post op now and as I increase activity sometimes I feel a pulling or slight tearing sensation. My body is giving me signals about my activities and so will yours. Everyone is different. When I overdo it a little, the PM area sometimes aches and seems slightly irritated. Err on the side of conservatism for awhile. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Lots of good advice

by Charlotteis - 2015-01-20 07:01:56

Hi there, lots of good advice on this page. I think the best is to listen to your body. I was shown shoulder exercises directly after surgery and told by doctor to use them immediately so that my shoulder didn't freeze. A few days later my leads were pulled out and had to be reinserted. I really don't believe I was overdoing it. It has been four weeks since reinsertion and I am being super careful. I even sleep with my arm inside my shirt so that I don't accidentally put my arms over my head in my sleep. Personally I would rather have a frozen shoulder than go through the lead reinsertion again.

Everybody is right, I'll simplify

by PacerRep - 2015-01-20 10:01:26

1). Keep your elbow below your shoulder, nobody cares where your hand is.
2). 10lb limit on implant side (I like the gallon of milk reference).
3). No reaching behind you on the implant side.
4). 1 Month is a good timeframe to allow it all to "set in" (lets just say until March 1st, 2015 for you)

Practical applications:

Reaching for a plate or a cup? Use your other hand.

Took a poop? Wipe with the other hand

Washing your hair? Use 1 hand, can you guess which one?

No jumping jacks, no golf, no olympic pool swimming etc.

Don't wear the sling 24/7, frozen shoulder/elbow is not a fun time. However! I don't know how you sleep, but me (and most people) when I turn on my side...BAM!! that arm goes up under the pillow. If you do this, wear your sling at night.

Nobody bats 1000 on this, just do the best you can.

Frozen shoulder

by Veronica - 2015-01-23 11:01:37

My pm is one week old and I have been keeping my arm in sling most of day not to use it. I have noticed my shoulder hurting and my arm feeling stuck to my chest?. I was told to rotate my arm for a few minutes every day. Now I will only use sling at night. This is the only website I could find about pacemakers. Are there any blogs on this subject?
Veronica

Recovering

by coach6 - 2015-01-25 03:01:35

Hi everyone, I am getting my PM in 5 days and I see a few of you have had one inserted in the last few weeks. I was wondering how you are managing with daily activities. I am planning on returning to work 4 days after my PM insertion, which will involve light arm movements but nothing over head..

Coach6

Recovering

by doodlebug66 - 2015-01-29 01:01:13

I had my PM surgery the same day as you 1/16/2015. My post op paperwork said not to raise my arm above my shoulder for 5 days. No lifting over 5lbs for 2 weeks and 10 pds for 4-6weeks. I have been raising my arm above my shoulder and am wondering if this is why I am getting sharp pains occasionally and a burning sensation. Could I pull my leads out if I continue to raise it? Now I am worried that I may have messed something up.

You know you're wired when...

“Batteries not included” takes on a new meaning.

Member Quotes

I am a 58 year old woman, race cars, ski at 13,000+ feet, work out daily, have become a second-degree black-belt in Karate, run a business - no limitations.