Pacemaker muscle pain

I had my pacemaker put in 2019. I am having muscle pain in the left side where my pacemaker is. Some times it feels like just an ache. Sometimes are worse than others. But I bring it up with my cardiologist and it's just disregarded as muscle pain. But it gets painful and concerning. I can massage it and can help with the pain, but once I stop it hurts again. I've done nothing to extend or injure it, but does anyone else have pain in the muscle. Sometimes it will go to my arm and upninto my neck. I've had countless checks for other issues and nothing. They put me on toprol to assist with pain but nothing is putting a dent in it. Anyone else have issues? 

4 Comments

Pain

by JaneJ - 2024-04-10 02:31:39

Hi Glenna,

I've had some weird neck pain as well over the past year.  I'm not sure if it's related to my pacemaker or something else.  I usually put these cooling strips on my neck and it ends up feeling better pretty quick.  Not sure if something like that maybe would help you to.... I get them at CVS.  You can also use them on your forehead if you have migraines, fever or headaches.  I often think they work better than medication even.  They're called bekool soft gel sheets.  I found them for my kids when they would get sick with fever...they work like a charm ( :  Also, toprol isn't usually a drug they use for pain, it's usually used for lowering heart rate and /or blood pressure control.  It's a beta blocker.  Hope you feel well soon and get your pain figured out, I can imagine it's very frustrating.  Take care 

muscle pain

by new to pace.... - 2024-04-10 07:34:22

You might go to your GP to get an xray to make sure you do not have a tear in it or something else. Or try acupuncture for the pain.

new to pace

Therapeutic massage

by Lavender - 2024-04-10 10:15:19

My left arm/neck/armpit hurt a long time after pacemaker insertion. I see a therapeutic masseuse twice a month. She got it loosened up and I continue to go as maintenance for that and my back. 
 

 

Muscle pain/aches

by Good Dog - 2024-04-10 16:10:49

It could be that your vein carrying the leads has become occluded. That is a fairly common occurrence in many patients after getting a pacemaker. I am not suggesting that is the problem here, but only that it is just a possibility. There could be many other causes of your aches/pain. However, if that is the reason for it, then it is likely only temporary. Your body will use existing or develop collateral vein(s) over a period of time from weeks to a couple months after the vein closes-up (a process called angiogenesis - the formation of new blood vessels). When that happens your blood flow should then return to normal and the symptoms should subside. I recently discussed this with my Doc when we were considering the possibility of adding a new lead. He advised that sometimes when a vein becomes occluded it can cause pain and/or numbness and sometimes even swelling of your arm/shoulder on the left-side. Some people do not experience any symptoms and others do. In my case, the vein carrying my leads is occluded and I did not experience any symptoms.

Regardless what is causing your muscle pain, I do hope that it subsides and you feel better soon. 

Sincerely,

Dave

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