lifting my arm

Hi all! I hope that you're all well, I haven't posted for a while. Have been doing fine, I am now at my 6 weeks since my pm was fitted(was actually wednesday) I have returned to work too, not full time yet but I will soon have to as our finances will not cope.
I am not due to see my cardio doctor til the 23rd June which will be the 1st time since my op. I was wondering do I have to wait until I have seen him to start raising my arm or can I start doing it gradually myself? Obviously I dont just want to throw my arm up in the air not after being so careful for 6 weeks but feel almost like I have to have some kind of permission!?
I still get a little pain and some soreness in the wound area especially when I have used my arm quite a bit, like yesterday when I was doing the housework, is that normal? Its not major pain more a little discomfort.
Think thats all for now folks, Take care

Also welcome to all the new members, there are quite a few!
Louise.x

7 Comments

hello

by elfinbee - 2008-05-30 01:05:31

hello

i got my pm about a month ago on the 20th. my doctor told me i could start using my arm at 3 wks, which i have. anytime longer i think my arm would had been stiff.

good luck
helen

arm movement

by Pookie - 2008-05-30 07:05:02

Hi Louise.

Welcome to the world of pacemakers. You sure did find a wonderful group here.

In short, I remember my doctor telling me the 4-6 week rule(s) of not lifting your arm above your head, etc. But I am sure that all of us might be guilty of doing it out of habit. Funny, how all of a sudden we notice how much we depended on that arm!

I am sure you are doing just fine and you probably should expect a bit of soreness the more you use that arm. Just take it little by little when it comes to moving that arm more than you have in the past 6 weeks! You will eventually have full mobility, its just the doctors wanting the lead(s) to settle in.

My doctor, at the end of the 4-6 weeks, gave me arm exercises to do and they did help.

Pookie

Dr. Advice

by Mitch - 2008-05-30 08:05:15

As the last comment said, it can be quite different Dr. to Dr. I started using my arm in all normal functions except any heavy lifting in 7 days. Have had no problems. the dr. wanted me to wait to lift anything over 20 lb for at least 4 weeks. I have had my pm for 1 year and had it checked 4 times and all is well. good luck.
Mitch

cheers

by LouLou21 - 2008-05-30 08:05:22

Cheers pookie!
I know it is a wonderful site, i've had so much help off you guys on here, smitty,uvagershwin, gentleben4u, its a godsend when you 1st come out of hospital and are looking for a bit of guidence and support. Its got me through the last 6 weeks i tell you.
Have a good weekend,
louise.xx

Time to get moving!

by bambi - 2008-05-30 11:05:44

You could call your Dr.'s office and ask them for the go ahead to start lifting and using that arm. June 23 is another 3 weeks off! If you wait too long to start using your arm, you run the risk of developing "frozen shoulder", and the arm will get stiffer and harder to use. Wow! I want the name of your Doc- 6 weeks off work? [chuckle!] Anyway, since I've had my pacemaker replaced 3 times already, I have found in hindsight, that the sooner I got back into the everyday routine, the better I felt physically and emotionally! My Dr. is one of those who believes not using the arm for 6 weeks is excessive, and gives his patients the go ahead at 3 weeks. I wish you the best. Now, knock 'im dead, champ!
Bambi

Thanks!

by LouLou21 - 2008-05-31 01:05:49

Thanks guys, well i have been moving my arm which took a few weeks to get used to as at first i was scared to move it at all and it was like a dead arm.
I do use it quite a lot now and naturally, but obviously not above shoulder height, because i was in danger of getting a frozen shoulder.
I think on monday i will ask if i can start lifting it as bambi said 23rd of june is another 3 weeks away and that will be quite a long wait. plus i go on holiday in 5
weeks and i want to be mobile with this left arm so i can lie on my front and get that suncream in those hard to reach places!
I know its going to be a bit stiff at 1st as i have stretched my arm out in front of me and it feels like thats as high as it will go anyway, so i do like the sound of easing it up with the warm water in the shower idea.
Thanks for all you helpful advice, lots of love to you all, louise.x

Go ahead!

by auntiesamm - 2008-05-31 08:05:28


As the others have said, doctors vary on what they think and tell patients. It is pretty much a standard not to raise the arm above SHOULDER level for 6 wks.. There is a lot that can be done at shoulder level and under - like wash some dishes, fold laundry, etc. The day I came home from having my pacer, after all the warnings, my husband caught me reaching up to a high shelf to get the laundry detergent. He yelled at me and I dropped the big bottle of Tide! Scared the you know what out of me! Now we can laugh about it. Thank goodness the lid was on tight. I put little yellow stickies on all my cupboards and cabinets that I routinely used as a reminder to myself! As Bambi said avoiding a frozen shoulder is imperative. This can be prevented by simple exercises below shoulder level. Good luck with your continued recovery. I'm very lucky in that I had little pain, was able to sleep from the day I got home, and have been problem-free since!

Sharon

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