Pulling Leads Out?

I noticed a lot of posts talking about weight lifting movements. After spending hours looking up information on the subject there's nothing clear about doing lifting above the head. Doctors tell everyone not to do anything because it's the safe legal route to the answer but I don't believe it's accurate. I understand the clavicle crushing. If it was so bad then there would be other things beneath ( subclavian vein and the neck muscle attachments) that would also be damaged. I'm thinking they would choose a better route if the potential for damaging leads was high. I want to get back to basic lifting movements but I need a solid answer on doing anything overhead. Has anyone else received better solutions then the DR giving the easy (technically legal) answer? A fitness professional needs to publish solid information about what not to do and provide long term lifting limitations. Anything available is post op limitations and I want to know what I can do after 8 weeks of recovery.

4 Comments

depends who you ask

by Tracey_E - 2015-12-04 11:12:23

I doubt we'll ever see a definitive answer saying anything beyond gentle exercise is safe because 1) liability, few will go out on a limb like that, and 2) there just aren't that many of us it applies to so there haven't been studies and there are no solid answers. There are doctors who say nothing overhead and no pull ups or push ups, there are others who say go for it with no restrictions, and any number of instructions in between.

I've found that doctors who are athletic themselves are more open to lots of activity. My dr and rep are both very active and they encourage me to do whatever I want to stay fit. They agree with my opinion that the best thing I can do for myself is have a strong heart, not sit around worrying about leads. My rep has been doing this 25+ years, covers a large area and has quite a few patients like me, much more than my dr who has me and one other so he is speaking from much more experience than the average dr. His words, leads are meant to bend and flex with us so don't hold back. My dr's official instructions are stop if it doesn't feel right and don't do anything stupid. He rolls his eyes a lot when we chat but never tells me no :) So far, so good, 20+ years and no issues.

Why worry?

by heckboy - 2015-12-05 03:12:11

I agree with those above and have a weightlifting routine including military press, have kayaked and swim, sometimes vigorously. That said, I partially pulled a lead on my 1st PM about a year in and believe it was at the gym where I did it. My Dr must have agreed, because he made sure I had extra slack for a wide range of movement on my second PM.

My advice is not to let your PM keep you from doing anything save something that might impact your site (like boxing), but remember that you DO have a PM and should protect it.

No problems here

by JenSF - 2015-12-05 12:12:29

I've had pacemakers for 32 years now and have opted to lead a very active lifestyle. I figure I'm not going to let a pacemaker keep me from doing what I want to do - within limits, of course. Tracey's doctor's advice to "not do anything stupid" is sound.

Over the years I've worked as a ski instructor and a kayak guide and I took trapeze lessons for 3 years. The trapeze, especially, involved a lot of lifting my own body weight. I would sometimes find the pacemaker site to feel sore, but never had issues with my leads.

My doctor says he frequently uses me as an example that pacemakers don't have to limit your life. I hope you find what works for you!

Jen

Leads pulling out

by Good Dog - 2015-12-05 12:12:34

I had lifted weights moderately and had a routine of at least 300 push-ups every morning along with many other routine exercises for many years without a problem. I wore-out my shoulder joints, but it didn't harm my PM or the leads. I've had my PM for 30 years.
You just need to be sensible. Obviously, if you get too bulked-up there is a chance of flexing and putting a lot of pressure at a specific location too frequently on a lead. So bulking-up probably is not the best idea. However, I do think that staying toned and in shape is a great idea.
Sincerely,

Dave

You know you're wired when...

You take technology to heart.

Member Quotes

It is just over 10 years since a dual lead device was implanted for complete heart block. It has worked perfectly and I have traveled well near two million miles internationally since then.