pacemaker insertion

I had a pacemaker inserted on 09 March 2016. Still in considerable pain with shoulder and arm. Can anyone advise if this is normal, and if so, when can I expectl some improvement?
Thank you.

4 Comments

how long to heal?

by zazen_1 - 2016-03-25 03:03:22

I had mine installed 6 weeks ago. The surgeon nicked a blood vessel resulting in very extensive ecchymosis - entire left side and some across the chest - a deep grape purple shade. I think this complicated healing?

I also discovered I had PVCs and PACs after the install. I thought the skipped beats were due to the Mobitz block and would be taken care of by the PM.

In much pain for at least two to three weeks before I could even begin to find a comfortable sleeping position. Various pain at times on both sides just above the hips?

After two weeks the entire left arm including the hand swelled - this lasted about two weeks - keeping it elevated helped. Supposedly a circulation issue with the wires constricting blood flow in the vein going to the heart. I stopped cycling as that seemed to make the swelling worse.

Then after three weeks the left side of my neck was sore to the touch - also lasting about two weeks.

Continued to have noticeable pain the upper left arm and PM area for at least four weeks - enough to restrict full movement.

I resumed golfing after 5+ weeks. I can feel the PM during the backswing - seems to be just fine.

At this point just a small amount of pain around the PM when I press on it.

Being older at 72 I assume I do not heal as quickly as I used to. It all just takes time. After many ups and downs all seems well.

March 2nd

by DampDog - 2016-03-25 04:03:17

I'm just about a week ahead of you with my first implant being on the 2nd, March.

It has been was way, way more painful/sore than I expected it to be, especially the first week or so, more-so in my shoulder than my chest. I'm now a little over 3 weeks in and I can just about manage to sleep on my right-hand side for a little while. (suspect it will be months before I get near lying on my left) For the most part I've been sleeping propped up with as many pillows/cushions as I can muster. The pain is slowly subsiding but I'm still pretty tender in my chest and especially my shoulder. It is improving as the days pass but it has been more painful than I expected, at this rate I anticipate it will be a month or two maybe longer before it fully resolves. Still getting used to having a "bump" in my chest that wasn't there before.

Each person is different

by Theknotguy - 2016-03-26 01:03:34

Each person heals at their own rate. It depends upon your body and how much stress you had during the implant. Some people get sore muscles easily, others aren't bothered.

Things you can do are: 1) keep moving, 2) hydrate.

I had a continuing problem with a muscle right at the base of my neck on the pacemaker side. As others on this forum have gotten tired of hearing, I went to see a licensed massage therapist. Key words were licensed and therapist. For me, she helped a lot.

I was drinking 1/2 liter of water per 33 pounds of body weight per day at the first. It helped me to adjust. Don't need as much water per day now.

It's only been 16 days for you so it's early yet. If you still have muscle soreness at the end of 30 days, then consider seeing someone at that time.

I had gotten a lot of trauma before having the pacemaker implant so it was five months before I could even think of doing normal things. I was seven months before I could try to do normal things, then another two months before I started feeling "normal". It took me two years to get back to over 100%. Like I said, it depends upon a lot of things as to how you will feel.

I hope everything else is going well for you.

Pacemaker insertion

by Walker02 - 2016-03-31 03:03:25

My thanks to Zazen-1, DampDog and Theknotguy for your responses. looks like I need to be patient for a bit longer. Currently at the stage when it seems to be improving everyday then... boom.... out of the blue, intense shoulder/arm back! 3 weeks gone now and your replies have shown me it's a waiting game.
Take good care everyone.


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My muscles are very sore but each day it gets better and my range of movement is improving.