Pacemaker Side Effects

shoulder pain

by new to pace.... - 2024-03-23 17:11:33

Sorry to hear.  I went to an acupuncturist to loosen up the scar tissue and to deal with the pain.  Helped  me.  If you do not know one near you.  I can ask mine if she knows someone near you?

  Could be you were afraid to move it and now have frozen shoulder.

new to pace

lack of movement?

by Tracey_E - 2024-03-23 18:11:25

If you don't use the arm enough while you heal and/or are sleeping in a different position, that will cause pain. It should go away with time as you get back to your normal routine. If it persists, a PT should be able to give you exercises.

Where did you read that number? Was it just immediately post-op or long term?

Therapeutic massage

by Lavender - 2024-03-23 20:16:51

My neck and left arm/shoulder hurt too. I went to a licensed therapeutic masseuse.  She gradually got everything limber again. I didn't have frozen shoulder. I just had sore painful muscles. 

shoulder pain/mobility

by Capt Odyssea - 2024-03-23 21:17:28

I had the same problem after my 3rd ICD, found numerous medical references stating 40% of recipients experienced it, but none identified the connection to ICD/PM install. Most said it does go away. I have pain in both left and right, worse in the right, which is where #3 is in the right chest muscle.

Painful shoulder

by speedbuggy - 2024-03-24 09:33:26

I think I have the same problem as you caitrin, 12 months after pacemaker fitting. I'm so bad now I'm about to see a private physiotherapist (NHS ones are rubbish) in April 2024. It hurts to move my left arm at all especially behind my back and over my head and I don't want to end up with a frozen shoulder. 

Post implant pain

by Gemita - 2024-03-24 10:35:46

Why you have shoulder and neck pain following pacemaker implant is difficult to answer and may have several causes.  Of course, it may not necessarily be a complication of a pacemaker implant at all.  

We did a survey on post implant pain and it showed that many of us have lasting pain following implant, far in excess time wise of what our doctors suggested might be expected and the conclusion of the survey was for the need for doctors to give more realistic advice to their patients and for better management of pain to be offered if needed.  I attach a link in case you are interested which should be copied and pasted into your general browser to open.

Other members have given good advice.  I would just like to add that I developed nerve pain from insertion of a pacemaker lead which traumatised both a blood vessel and nerves in the area.  The intermittent pain lasted for several months and I had to take neuropathic pain meds.   

There is a lot that can potentially go wrong, but I suspect that you have had investigations to rule out anything serious?  If not, I would do so, especially if you have any unusual swelling, inflammation, prominent blue/purple veins near your device or any skin colour changes to indicate that there may be a blockage of a blood vessel?  Hope your doctors can help to ease your pain and concerns, either with physiotherapy or other treatments. 

https://bjcardio.co.uk/2022/07/pain-after-pacemaker-icd-implants/

Post Pacemaker Implant Shoulder and Neck Pain

by Caitrin - 2024-03-24 13:37:25

I have read with interest all comments to date regarding my post and wish to offer the following responses.

Post op I was instructed to move my left arm but not above my shoulder the first six weeks though to otherwise keep it active thus I did not develop frozen shoulder.  I gradually developed pain in both shoulders and then the neck, even my jaw, and that pain has leveled off but is persistent.   Nevertheless I continue to stay active with chores, driving and exercise. I suppose the most reliable source I chose was from the NIH Library wherein it noted in chart form the places on the body where there was pain post cardiac implants, the most pain being the surgical site followed by the shoulder and neck and other areas of the body.  I personally did and have not had surgical site pain.  I note that others have experienced what I have described and even more so than I and for extended periods no consolation to me.

Last week I notified my cardiac electophysiologist about my shoulder/neck pain and I will see him tomorrow.  I have several questions for him after he and his battery technician test my pacemaker and two leads which I hope remain in good position.

Again, many thanks for telling me about your personal journeys and Genita's link which I will look at later.

I am happy to join this organization, to be able to share our individual thoughts and experiences, and to not feel alone.

Caitrin

Caitrin...

by R2D2 - 2024-03-25 23:48:41

My situation is a bit different as I have a CRT-D which is larger, but I'm 8 months post surgery and still have pain around the device. Sometimes it spreads up my neck and back to my shoulder blade. It always feels like there's a hockey puck in there, and it's always tender. I avoid even hugging people on that side, as their chin will often hit that spot and it's painful. 

When I spoke to my doctor about it, he said, "I'm not surprised you are still in pain, it's very normal for you to feel that." Hmm.... But then, that's about all I hear, it's normal. It's normal. 

I wish I could be of more encouragement, other than, if you just got a pacemaker, it should be better in a few months. Most pacemaker people don't end up having the same difficulties as the CRT-D people, again because our device is about a third of the size larger if not more. 

I can say that when my shoulder is really sore or irritated, I just gently rub it and apply some low heat. That usually helps. 

Some strategies I used

by Elisabet - 2024-03-26 21:20:27

@R2D2, I had to have my pacemaker's generator's pocket revised (set deeper) about a year after getting it put in. I was exeripencing what you describe, plus bra straps and seatbelts were a real issue. I kept washcloths in the car because without padding it was too painful to drive. Part of the problem was that I had really thin skin due to radiation therapy when I was younger, and for a related reason the pm moved around in the pocket because it was slow to heal. In fact the loop of wires ended up in front and man that was painful!

I also experienced some neck and shoulder pain longer term, which I am sure was due to scarring and adhesions. My doctor was big on gentle range of motion exercises but due to a shoulder injury I had been somewhat limited. After a few months of a warm water classes at the Y (I think it was an American Arthritis Foundation curriculum) I felt much better. Another thing I did was some PT neck stretches and exercises (really important for Hodgkin's survivors, as the wide radiation field causes muscle atrophy over time). Just a little pulled out of alignment can cause pain. Your head really is heavy!