I'm 3 week post op and am still experiencing a gnawing pain in my upper arm which is worse at night and wakes me up often. I've been trying to get my arm moving more after trying to guard it for the first couple of weeks.
Anyone experienced similar? Hoping it will gradually fade..
Thanks, Dan.
Yes me to, I had mine done about 4 weeks ago and my shoulder and arm are still quite painful, also still have lots of bruising from elbow up and across my chest although it is fading.
If I move my arm forward and slightly across, my pacemaker digs in and I can't lie on that side, feels very odd all the time !
PS forgot to say the whole area is numb as well, dead as a dodo 😕
Have you been to get the numbness checked out bantam?
Are you moving your arm much?
I've just taken a couple of paracetamol to try to help me get to sleep. Its been waking me up about 3am each day so I don't really feel the benefit of having a PM in as am still knackered!
I'm going for a pacing check in a couple of weeks so will check the numbness then.
I'm doing most things again using my arm, mucking out the chicken houses ! but some movements make me stop and think ouch !
I found driving a bit painful and it made my arm very achy afterwards.
I'm also waking throughout the night, trying to sleep on my back just doesn't work so I'm really tired but my pm has helped with the pauses I was getting and the Bisoprolol has reduced my rate so I'm pleased I made the decision to go for it. Just hope it doesn't feel uncomfortable forever !
Get that checked out bantam12. I had a tender elbow and swollen arm 3 weeks after p.m implant. Rang the dept where the op was done went back for scan to find i had a blood clot in my shoulder. Let us know how you get on Brian
Thanks for the thought, I did think of a blood clot but I don't really have any swelling and I'm on anticoagulants anyway but I will keep an eye on it. I think the trauma of the procedure is the main problem, the surgeon was a big strong bloke and at the time I thought he was being a bit rough when he was really pushing down hard on my shoulder and I'm very slim so no padding on me to soften the blows !
Hello there. I don’t have any direct experience of a pacemaker but I do remember when I broke my leg in a motorcycle accident (not my fault) - it ached for years. Obviously any operation involves trauma which is translated in some parts to Inflammation. Taking paracetamol for a period would be a good idea as the overall idea is to reduce the inflammation within your body. Unless there is a specific problem with the operation then the symptoms should get better. I wish you the best with your health
I had my pacemaker inserted 3 months ago and still experience pain and discomfort from mine. After the op I was told it would be about 6 months but as I was badly bruised for that time, it was difficult to tell. The doctor has since said 3 months and the physio on Tuesday gone said it can take 6 months to a year. I get a stinging pain or deep ache if i do anything though i am not still and virtually left handed. Seems experts don' t know so it depends on the individual. To be honest, the hospital gave no after care so I have been relying on second hand opinions from others.
I had terrible bruising which is still coming out and thats been more painful than the op site, top of my arm is the worst. I think the trauma to the muscle is also something that will take a long time to resolve. I did know about all this because my husband had a pm but he didnt suffer with such bad after effects.
The procedure was far more brutal than I expected so no wonder we are all left with pain and awful bruises.
I'm on my second implant as the first was taken out after 6week due to infection concerns. I didn't have much pain with that one but just discomfort when lying on that side. Not sure why this one, on the right side of chest, is giving me bother, I guess nerves might be irritated. As you say it feels a surprisingly rough procedure.
Yes I remember you had problems after the first one, strange that this one has caused you more issues than the first.
The nerves have definitely been messed up as I'm numb over quite an area and the muscle under the pm doesn't like being stretched in certain directions, I lent forward one day and there was a definite ping sensation and it ramped up the pain !
I've had several major ops in the past but this has been the most painful by far.
I hope you go on ok and everything settles down, seems it takes some of us longer to recover.
Crikey..are you taking pain relief?
Paracetamol helped me to sleep last night.
The pain I've got is like tennis elbow. Very little bruising though.
My surgeon was in a rush as I was the last one to do on a Tuesday and he was off for the week. He started to cut in, twice, before the injection took effect & the bruising was worse as they hadn't taken me off blood thinners even though had been waiting for two days. I try not to take pain relief too often. I feel worse now than before the ICD was inserted as was never breathless or had ankle swelling before it. Told to take it slowly and will get better eventually,
Oh dear, hopefully you'll start to improve.
I've mentioned above that its my second implant this year and my first was a breeze (until it had to come out!) but it shows how different the same procedure can be even in the same person, same doc etc..
It is frustrating, hopefully time will get it sorted. There are lots of positive stories on here to take encouragement from.
Hi Bigdan i would get it checked out Please see my reply to Bantam12. Hope alls ok for you Brian
Hi, I am 8 months post pacemaker implant. Sore to begin with but I can now forget it most of the time. Mine is on the right so I notice it when driving. The seat belt catches it slightly. Post op I was advised to keep some movement going in my arm but to avoid extremes of movement in order to prevent getting a “frozen shoulder”. Keeping the arm too still can cause this. I wonder if this is what has happened to you? If so, it could be you need some gentle physio. After taking medical advice of course.
That's what I'm thinking singing T, don't have swelling, bruising, numbness etc, just a deep constant annoying mild pain. From just below elbow to shoulder with tightening from shoulder to chest which seems to have got better the last few days.
I've had similar pain in elbow joint in the past after over use when climbing but this eases with rest but I've done nothing but rest recently!
Tell me about it. Comes hard when you’re used to being active.
Discomfort in my upper arm and shoulder joint have improved over the last month (8 since op) . I have wear and tear osteoarthritis and see an osteopath who keeps me going. She has worked on my upper arm every 6/8 weeks since just before Christmas. I didn’t want her to touch the area before that because I was worried about dislodging the leads. I resumed Pilates 4 wks ago but don’t stretch my arms too high. I guess what I am saying is that, as long as your pain is musculoskeletal, it will improve over time as you use your arm more naturally.
I must say I have been feeling so much better since having the pacemaker. More energy, and when I do go into AF I don’t pass out. Because I can be more relaxed about AF it happens less frequently ( about once every 3 weeks at the moment for around 19 hrs). I can live with that. Hope you get some relief soon. Best wishes T
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