Post ablation back pain

[Singer67]

Happy new year to all. 67 yr old male. A fib since 2011. Progressively worse, of course. Had my first ablation 11-4-17 so 8 weeks out. 1.25 bisoprolol daily, anticoagulanted. Short of breath on exertion (climbing stairs) walking at a fast clip.my concern is with a backache that seems to start all at once when I go up stairs or move quickly. A sharp pain along spine about the same plane as heart. I haven’t seen anyone mention this as a side effect. EP says he isn’t aware of that side effect

[stevie11]

I have a bad back its degenerative and a stuffed right shoulder which regularly gives me pain AF and Left ventricular hypertrophy but nothing appears around my heart region..

I would definitely not ignore it i would ask for more tests they could have over looked something serious..

A GP only just last week alerted me to letter in march saying i had LVHT and my regular GP and Cardiologists never mentioned a word i also had an ablation in August..

I asked my regular GP many times why i was on Perindopril in that time as well that was the reason why, do not trust doctors especially GPs and never be shy to get a second opinion..

I am fuming about it all i wished i had got a 2nd opinion earlier or a more thorough doctor..

[Singer67 in reply to stevie11]

Thanks!

[CDreamer]

Yes I had back pain after both ablations and sometimes an achy feeling around my heart for quite a while. Breathlessness is also very common. You have had major stuff done inside your heart and it takes much, much longer to recover than we are ever told - improvement is gradual and I was 9 months before my HR settled completely,

Plenty of rest, graduated exercise and healthy eating plan will assist a good recovery but if you are worried about anything or if things get worse instead of easing off - go back to your Doctor or ring your Arrythmia Nurse,

[jennydog]

If this persists you need to get an MRI scan done on your spine to check its state. A normal X-ray shows very little.

In advising this I am speaking from my own experience during 2016 when my mobility began to deteriorate and nothing was done by Orthopedics. Eventually a Neurologist arranged for an MRI scan which showed 2 herniated discs in my neck. I am apparently one of the 20% who has no pain there. I regret being patient because I deteriorated badly and nothing happened.

Best wishes

[Buffafly]

Did you have a cardioversion during your procedure? I had two and had a very painful neck for a few days, but I have degenerative arthritis and fusion in my spine. This could have found a weak spot.

[MtLSteven]

The tables in the Cath Labs may be too hard for individuals who have to lie still for a long time. If you do not have a history of degenerative disease why not try a Physio, Oesteopath or Chiropractor?

[Singer67]

Thank you all very much for your replies. I am so glad I found this site. I am in Tulsa, Oklahoma and feel a kinship with many of you in the UK from reading your posts and replies. happy new year!

[Hidden in reply to Singer67]

And Happy New Year to you too Singer67 from a very wet Hull, East Yorkshire, England.

Tulsa. Gene Pitney. 1963. What a great song!

Be well.

[Barb1]

I had awful backache after my first ablation that lasted over 7 hrs. Before subsequent ablations they were very accommodating in making sure there was support for my lower back and I had a relaxant intravenous medication.

[Singer67]

Thanks, I didn’t have any back pain initially. Started about 6 weeks after ablation. Still sorting things out.

[Hidden]

Singer, how were you before the back pain started? When did the breathlessness start?

Back pain coming out of the blue 6 weeks after the ablation, maybe the two are not related.

This isn't a pleurisy type of pain is it, you know, when you cough or take a deep breath?

[Singer67 in reply to Hidden]

It seems to be resolving itself. Been super cold here and I haven’t been active the last couple of days. Talked with my cardiologist (been my doc for 15 years) and he said if it doesn’t resolve we could do an mri in a couple of weeks. Great to have him as he has also had an ablation and understands you don’t jump off the table and run ten miles. Hopefully all will settle within the next month. He told me my heart was much “quieter” yesterday than it was December 19th

[Hidden in reply to Singer67]

Great to hear that