Arm numbness ?

I have had my pacemaker now for 2 1/2 months. It is placed on the left side just below the clavicle bone. I have been expieriencing left arm and hand numbness. Does anyone else have this ? Or have a comment about it? I am wondering if I should be concerned? I had this pre-pacer but it was gone post-pacer until about 2 weeks ago when it returned.Do you think I should call the cardiologist? I recently stopped taking the Zocor because I had side effect of very severe leg and calf pain..I could barley walk! Thank You for your time in advance.--Michele

4 Comments

arm munbness?

by jessame - 2009-01-17 09:01:59

Hi Michele,

I am fairly new to this site so I can only tell you what I would do. It this was pre-pacer and gone post pacer only to return I would definatley call your cardiologist. We woman have been to told to listen their bodies because we know them and when something is wrong.Women are different from men as far symptoms of the heart are concerned. It's better to be safe and you will have some peace of mind if it turns out to be either nothing or something that can be corrected. Hope you get to felling better, Let me how your feeling' Sorry for the very slow typing but I just took a Lunesta (sleeping pill) I t is working rather quickly so I better close for now before I fall over and end up sleeping on the floor (cold tile)
Feel better soon!
Jessame

Hand numbness

by ElectricFrank - 2009-01-17 10:01:58

It could be a leftover from the effects of the Zocor. It can take quite a while to recover from the effects of this "miracle" drug. My brother had the problem and as I remember it took several months for him to get back to where he could roller skate again.

frank

Arm Numbness

by Pookie - 2009-01-18 04:01:33

Hi Mrs. H.

I too experienced upper left arm soreness (achy) (like I've been punched) and pins & needles right down into my fingers both before and after my pacemaker.

BUT...after the pacemaker I am really noticing it and have asked on several occasions what the problem could be. Never did get a straight answer...yet.

I did receive a doppler (ultrasound) of my left arm because it swelled a couple of times by 2.5 inches!! but wasnt' red; just felt really really tight and uncomfortable, like a pressure. The ultrasound yielded nothing, but did give me a bit of peace of mind...until it happened again!

Personally, I think mine is a pinched nerve. Although when I see my family doctor this week, I will request a CT scan because 4 years of this is way too long.

All you can do is speak to your doctors about it. Ask for some kind of test(s).

I was always afraid of a blood clot...but all the nurses and doctors I've seen told me that the area would be really red like a sunburn, swollen, hot and hurt like heck!

Better safe than sorry....check with your doc.

Pookie

To Magster

by ElectricFrank - 2009-01-18 07:01:07

Be ready for the lecture to include fear tactics. They like that worried look and the "How will you feel if you have a heart attack because you haven't taken your statins". My favorite response is "I probably won't feel much very long", but you have to work that one out to fit your doc. The fear approach is powerful. As much as I know about it I still feel a bit of a tug. It's the same approach used by a car salesman when he tells you that the one you are looking at is the last one on the lot.

By the way one of the reasons there isn't clinical evidence of the side effects is that the doctors are coached by the drug reps to see them as only anecdotal so not to be reported.

frank

You know you're wired when...

You have a $50,000 chest.

Member Quotes

I'm 35 and got my pacemaker a little over a year ago. It definitely is not a burden to me. In fact, I have more energy (which my husband enjoys), can do more things with my kids and have weight because of having the energy.