Pacemaker Club: 300 months later, it still hurts

300 months later, it still hurts

by AJHenry
2015-06-27 11:06:20
Complications
1514 views
2 comments

Hi! I got my PM last March. I have seen my cardiologist three times since then, including the one-month after PM check-up. He says everything is fine and in its place, but it continues to hurt, both in the area of the PM, under my armpit, and even on the right side of my chest. I can't say I'm in pain but it is pretty uncomfortable. After a normal day, the area feels as if were swollen, though it does not look swollen on the outside. I have been told that I can already raise my left arm but can't!!! It feels as if my arm were tied and the chord just would yield. I have been taking Lyrica and have taken Samen for 7 days twice. Enantyum and Acerdol help relieve the pain and discomfort a bit but not completely. It's been three days since PM and my cardiologist says all this is normal but I'm scared and afraid he might be wrong. Thoughts?

2 Comments

300 months later, it stills hurts

by merlot - 2015-06-28 01:06:37

I had a CRT_D implanted in March of this year and I have pain and discomfort when I try to use my left arm. I am also left handed.... need I say more? Don't be afraid your device is doing its job and don't be afraid of asking your cardiologist questions..it is your right. I am learning new things about this device and I am figuring out that the cardiologists cannot tell you everything... they try to tell you as much as possible.

Three Months or Three Hundred Months?

by TICKYTICKBOO - 2015-06-28 08:06:22

I had my device implanted in 09/4/2011.my shoulder area around my CRT hurts all the time, anywhere from a dull ache to swelling and pain. I use either heat or ice to calm the area. Nothing is wrong with the device, the simple fact is the shoulder is a very sensitive area, lots of nerve endings. We have been sliced open, a pocket made and a computer implanted.

Most people report their device ceases to bother them at some point in time. Life is full of trade offs.

Use your shoulder, have your GP refer you to a physiotherapist. Then go to physiotherapy and do the exercises you are given.

Use heat to loosen up muscles.
Use cold to lessen any damage to muscles and surrounding tissue. NOT USING YOUR ARM IS THE WORST THING YOU CAN DO. Not using your arm builds on the damage.

Right handed/left handed or ambidextrous does not matter, you need to use your body parts or they tighten up and you loose the ability to use them. I am ambidextrous, I had major shoulder problems before I had a CRT implanted, Having the CRT just aggravated the shoulder discomfort. My device clanks on my clavicle and the ceramic plate holding the shoulder together. The CRT sticks out a bit too far, causes problems with all sorts of straps and seat belts, necklaces are uncomfortable. Lots of little irritants. Give some thought to what your device does for you. You give up one thing to get another.