Brace for shoulder restrictions?

Hi, 32 years old, athletic, male with bradycardia and syncope. Got my pacemaker put in on Monday and getting used to the addition of my little buddy. Did anyone who has gone through the recovery process get a shoulder sling that restricted your movement above your head? If so which one? I have a sling to sleep in, but with a 2.5 year old and big dogs bumping around me it would be good to have additional support throughout the day ensuring I don't accidentally put my arm in a compromising spot.

Thanks!


4 Comments

No sling after the third or forth day.

by Gotrhythm - 2019-05-18 19:22:42

No sling!  A sling can lead to frozen shoulder.

Just be gentle in use of your arm for a couple of weeks until your incision is closed. No basketball, no wood chopping, no swimming, no karate--you get the picture.  Avoid raising arm above shoulder level. Don't pick up anything over 10 lbs. Don't pick up the child using the arm on the pacemaker side.

But don't be compulsive. If we're honest almost everyone forgets and raises the arm above the head of picks up something heavy once or twice. No harm is done.

If you take a blow directly on the site, it will hurt, lots, but it's unlikely to do any damage. So pet the dogs and hold the child in your lap. The pacemaker wires have been put in with some slack to allow for movement. There is very little evidence that movement will dislodge the leads. The cautions we are given come from an excess of caution.

 

Sling

by AgentX86 - 2019-05-18 21:42:44

I only used a sling for the first week, and when I was walking/exercising.  I do a lot and the motion and weight of my arm really hurt.  Be really careful, here.  You don't want frozen shoulder!  In any case, here is the sling I bought:

<https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075WBL4D7/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1>

Second Frozen Shoulder Comment

by Shana - 2019-05-19 00:56:21

My team had me out of the sling in 4 days. 

Main concern was frozen shoulder. 

Having had a frozen shoulder in the past, which is excruciating, I followed their advice. 

I did have a bigger dog jump into my new pacemaker (which hurt). I quickly learned to approach dogs with the opposite shoulder. 

 

Thanks!

by happy2bealive - 2019-05-19 10:59:09

Thanks everyone. It's pretty comforting to go through and read "been there done that" posts. 

Yes frozen shoulder sounds not fun. In the meantime, I'll only sleep in the sling (I twitch when I sleep) and let the arm be free.

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