Under the muscle

I am finally deciding to put in a 3lead crt pm in this coming monday. Dr. Wants to place it under the muscle. All your comments have helped. It seems like the pain will last a week or so. Is this the norm for most? Need to return to work. Is 2 weeks safe to say?

6 Comments

Probably more

by golden_snitch - 2015-04-14 03:04:57

I've had several under the muscle implants, and for me a week or two would not have been enough. The pain after submuscular implants is much more intense than after the standard under the skin implant. So, I'd plan 3-4 weeks rather than 1-2. But everyone is different...

All the best for your procedure!

More time

by doublehorn48 - 2015-04-14 06:04:02

You will have a lot more swelling and, of course, the pain will be greater. When I had it under the muscle I took 4.5 weeks off and then went back to a very physical job. And they used the leads that were already in place.

Everyone's different

by PeteFindlay - 2015-04-14 07:04:37

A 3-lead CRT might be different to a 2-lead pacer like I have. I have nothing to compare it with, this being my first implanted under the muscle a year ago, I'm a 50y/o very active male, by the way. I had no really noticeable bruising or pain, and although it certainly ached a bit for a few weeks, it wasn't particularly bad.

It depends what job you have, but I had no issues getting back to basic activities (driving and an office job levels of activity) in a week to 10 days. As it happened, I had about 2 full weeks off, as I had a few days holiday walking around New York before going back - including flying transatlantic 10 days post op. A physical job would have been more restricted by the 6-week limit on arm movement and weight carrying due to the leads settling.

Once it's all settled down after a couple of months, mine is very well protected under the muscle and has not given me any physical limitations in any activities.

A week or two?

by kbell - 2015-04-14 08:04:07

It sounds like you don't have to lift and that's great! So this is my best guess.

I have nothing to compare it to but got my first pacer subpec on 4/08/15 and was only on Tylenol#3 for a few days, which is not that strong. Now just on one Motrin near the end of the day and an occasional ice pack.

I asked the doc beforehand to define "painful" and he said just more tender to the touch and muscle soreness near the site, not searing pain. He was right, I'm only aware of the soreness when I'm moving.

Without complications I would take a week, maybe 10 days max just to get your act together. Simple self care takes 3 times as long becase of the limited arm motion.

I dunno about your doc but I was cleared to drive after seven days. Go back mid-week if you're not sure how sore you will be. I hope this helps.

Kimberly

work

by Tracey_E - 2015-04-14 08:04:34

I would leave it open ended and play it by ear if you can. Some are ready to go after 3 days, some still aren't ready after 3 weeks. We all heal differently so there's no one answer. What kind of work do you do? You can go back to a desk job much faster than a physically demanding job. Can you take breaks or do half days if you find you went back too soon?

I found the pain got considerably better and I was back to a slow motion version of my regular routine after the first week but it took a good 6-8 weeks before I had full range of motion back and was 100%. I was tired a lot those weeks. I didn't necessarily feel bad, but I napped a lot. I have a job where I can get away with that so I was back to working a few hours a day within a week.

Followup

by gaman - 2015-04-15 08:04:52

As mentioned by some above, everybody will be different on healing after a PM implant. I had a sub pectoral PM implant this past Friday (4/10/15) and actually drove myself home the next day (ok I really wasn't supposed to do that but don't tell anyone.........I don't recommend anyone do that!!). Dr. had no problem with me going to work Monday after I told him it would only be office work. Really hadn't had anything more than minor aching and some residual swelling. I'll start riding a stationary bike in a day or so and follow Dr.'s orders regarding the left arm movements until the 4-6 time frame has expired. I've seen some minor improvements in arm motion and each day has brought less aching.

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