Shoulder pain

I think it's very normal.

by lildanishgirl - 2019-04-27 18:26:49

I had my ICD/pacemaker fitted about 3.5 months ago. I experienced the same thing as you (especially at night and in the morning). It finally started feeling better at around 3 months, so hang in there! I highly recommend to do some gentle daily stretches (3 times per day) to make sure it gets better though. It worked wonders for me...and I'm still doing them at 3.5 months because I still have a bit of soreness. Hope that helps!

Hello

by EilishBow - 2019-04-28 09:26:49

I have been paced for 12 years and am on my second pacemaker that I have had for 2 years. I still sometimes get some slight pain at the top of my shoulder. I think my PM presses on nerves sometimes ! But as you’ve only just had it put in I would say it’s absolutely normal. Both times I have had one placed it’s been very painful after and my whole left side where my PM has been has been sore. It may be that at night you’re sleeping in a way that bothers the PM as it’s still healing. So I wouldn’t worry at all. Just try and do gentle movements with your arm as you don’t want a frozen shoulder. Just no reachinf up high or lifting heavy things for a while. And as long as it’s not red and hot and there’s no signs of infection. It takes a while to get used to the feeling of the pacemaker being there too. Now I forget I even have one! Hope you feel yourself again soon :)

Sounds normal

by RedRocksGirl - 2019-04-29 23:46:49

For sure part of the healing process as well as the result of muscle trauma from the surgery. Some is probably even due to the postition they have you arm in during the procedure to put the PM in. My first one was over 4 hours long so my shoulder was not happy afterwards!

I had mine put in 3 months ago and had quite a bit of shoulder pain, the worst of it was often at my shoulder blade, but there was some in the whole shoulder area. I just had to have my device repositioned 2 weeks ago so went though another surgery where they moved it from subpec to just below my clavicle.

I went in for a peri-operative massage today and it was amazing. He worked at least 45 - 50 minutes on the left shoulder, upper left arm and left side of the chest. He also explained all the shoulder pain - and pain in other areas since the surgery from an anatomical standpoint (muscle origins and insertions, etc) and it all made sense as far as what was hurting and why. My shoulder joint is so much more relaxed now and I'm not guarding it as much.

If you can find someone in your area that specializes in this type of post operative massage, I HIGHLY recommend it.  I'll be going back in a couple of weeks for another one.