Arm above your head

Hi ya. The doc said to not raise my arm above my head. Why ? And is it until the pacemaker site has healed or longer ?

Thanks for any information 

 

4 Comments

Limiting arm movement

by Julros - 2023-01-22 20:39:47

Restricting arm movement is thought to decrease the chance of dislodging the leads until they can heal into place. Only the very tip is anchored, or screwed into the heart tissue, so they can be accidently pulled out. My last doctor said to not raise my arm, or stretch it across my body for 4 weeks. 

just until you heal

by Tracey_E - 2023-01-22 20:46:16

There is a very tiny chance raising the arm high could dislodge the lead. After 4-6 weeks, you can't hurt it. After a year, it's in so tightly it takes a specialized laser to get it out.

Raising arm

by AgentX86 - 2023-01-22 22:18:13

They'll tell you that it's to keep from pulling the leads out until they've fully settled in.  I'm skeptical.  But... A bigger concern is doing damage to the healing tissue until it's better healed.  In particular, pulling the wound open would not be a good thing.  Infections can be deadly so it's worth some caution.

That said, we all did it. Not thinking, we all reached for something during this time.  No need to beat oneself up about it but just try to stay within bounds. OTOH, you must keep the shoulder and arm moving as normally as possible during that time.

He’s just now saying this?

by Lavender - 2023-01-23 15:28:28

I would think since you've had your pacemaker a couple weeks now, that you would have been told not to raise your arm from day one. 🙄

It is temporary inconvenience for permanent improvement for only six weeks or so to keep the elbow below the shoulder on the pacemaker side. 🙃

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