Problems with this whole new thing

Does anyone else out there experience pain related to their device? I cannot sleep on my left side without pain and almost every day have site pain and burning feeling even though had this implanted in May of 07. My doctor says I am fine and that perhaps it is irritating a nerve but this does not help make me feel better. I am nervous that there is really something wrong.


5 Comments

Pain

by heckboy - 2008-01-28 01:01:29

My PM is on my left side too and it pinches from time to time. I tend not to sleep on my left side anymore because of that. I can't say that it hurts, but the standard PM site in your upper chest is a pretty flexible part of your body and your PM is made of metal. I think that one has to learn to live with a PM... there's definitely a trade-off between the comfort and benefits of a PM.

No pain but tension

by axg9504 - 2008-01-28 07:01:38

I'm in week 3. Don't have any pain but definitely feel the tension as I cross my left arm over to the right or move my left arm about. I guess that feeling will never go away??

PM Pain

by SMITTY - 2008-01-28 12:01:11

Hello Sewing,

Yes, many of us feel, or have felt pain with our pacemaker. IT SHOULD NOT BE THAT WAY! A pacemaker should never cause the recipient pain. If it does, there is something wrong that can be corrected in99.9% o the time. Now that is not to say your doctor is sharp enough to know how to stop your pain and which case he should refer you to someone that can.

If your pacemaker is irritating a nerve then whatever is doing that can be moved or the nerve can be deadened. I went through many months of having my pacemaker "stimulating a nerve" - felt like I getting an electrical shock - and I had one of the arrogant doctors that kept telling me your problem is not from your pacemaker. I finally got to a doctor that was willing to find out what my problem was and in my case it was a try to reposition a lead or try to deaden the nerve with an injection. The injection was my first choice and it did the trick for me. Now I'm not trying to imply that is what you need, but I've used that to emphasize that the problem can be fixed.

Those of us that have a pacemaker that is causing us a problem have to remember that it is the squeaky wheel that gets the grease. In other words wart the hell out that doctor until he corrects the problem or sends you to someone that can.

Good luck,

Smitty

Pain in Week 2

by Jules - 2008-01-30 04:01:28

Hi I am now in Week 2. Today it feels as though I am carrying a weight. Whether this is the muscle which is carrying the PM I don't know. But ache today. Maybe overdone things. Anyway, the message from Cathryn is great can't wait for me to love my Pm and get back to physical activity.

Burning also need help

by lorine - 2015-03-17 05:03:43

If someone can tell me how to explan to my doctor about the burning . I have went to many doctor begging for help. Please could I get a update!

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I am 100% pacemaker dependant and have been all my life. I try not to think about how a little metal box keeps me alive - it would drive me crazy. So I lead a very active life.