Pain around ICD: I had an ICD fitted in... - British Heart Fou...

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Pain around ICD

Amaryllis20 profile image
4 Replies

I had an ICD fitted in December. I am still very aware of it and have a stinging sensation in the area and sometimes down my arm. I cannot sleep on either side without feeling discomfort. I have reported this. I had a lot of pain after surgery which was ascribed to a frozen shoulder.

Does anyone else have this issue.Is this usual?

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Amaryllis20
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4 Replies
NessaArthur profile image
NessaArthur

You are going to be aware of it for some months. It was 8 months before I could sleep on that side without any pain. I also remember having a burning tingling sensation in the area on and off for a few months too, but I was told this was nothing to worry about, as it is healing inside; I though the ICD was sending electrical pulses. After time you won’t even notice it being there during normal everyday actions. I have had mine 3 years last week and only hard physical work makes the area sore and sometimes there is pain even when sitting doing nothing after this. But, it is all worth it for the peace of mind and the help it gives me every heartbeat. Hopefully you will get an answer for the problem you are having, but it most likely is because it is all still healing up inside and out.

Amaryllis20 profile image
Amaryllis20 in reply to NessaArthur

Thank you very much for the reply. It is very reassuring.

Lozzie4 profile image
Lozzie4 in reply to NessaArthur

Yes very reassuring, thank you.

Lozzie4 profile image
Lozzie4

Hi Amaryllis20, i came here to ask the same the same question. I had my ICD fitted in October. I completed the healing time of not using my arm and then started light exercise etc as advised. Everything was going fine, no real pain and I was able to slowly stretch, getting a little further day by day. Then late Feb / March until now I am getting a nauseating pain in my shoulder, though it does move around my arm. I liken it to the pain you get from ligament / tendon damage, which in a way, i suppose it is. That part of our bodies has received a trauma. My doctor suggested taking paracetemol / Ibroprofen, which has helped with sleeping. I can completely empathise with you and guess we've just got to let time pass.To answer our question i guess it is usual :) but we certainly are very fortunate. Good luck with it all.

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