Discomfort from ICD fitted five months ago

[waynor]

Hi

Has anyone here had to have the ICD refitted?

DH says he is in constant pain from the implant site and it is stopping him from taking walksoutside the house since he gsts random shooting pains - not at every step, but bad enough to make him want to avoid it. Sitting, standing, lying down, moving around, he is constantly aware of it plus these sharper pains either on moving or sometimes just from the way he is holding himself.

Is this unusual?

I wonder whether it has trapped a nerve?

[Enonykasper]

Hi I had Icd fitted 3 months ago And still get discomfort

Being a lady I have to hold my left breast when changing or getting ready for bed

I sleep in a sleep bra that helps

I think it’s the nerve endings that need to heel

But it does move and give a horrible sensation now and again

Some one said it could take a year to settle down

Mine doesn’t like the heat as it seems to get prickly when I’m hot

Just hang in there guess it’s just time 👍🏻

[waynor in reply to Enonykasper]

Many thanks, sorry to hear you are having a time of it too. Will let you know if we get any tips and whether it really can take as long as a year.

[Enonykasper in reply to waynor]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻Thank you

[Bluemoon47]

Hello waynor, sorry to hear you are having trouble with your ICD. I had mine fitted in May and I do get twinges from it occasionally, especially if I am overactive, but it doesn't prevent me doing normal things. Suggest you speak to the cardiac department just to put your mind at rest. Hope all is well, keep us updated please.

[waynor in reply to Bluemoon47]

Thank you for the feedback, much appreciated. DH says he is getting worse not better but is due for a follow-up in early August. Yes, will keep you all posted.

[fantasyfanuk]

Hi I had a CRT-P fitted after having had a dual chamber pacemaker for two years. Although not an ICD I am told this device is quite a bit larger than a standard pacemaker so maybe similar to an ICD. For about a year I had very similar stabbing/shooting pains and the feeling of it moving was extremely uncomfortable and really weird. I found it shifted to sit at right angles to my chest sometimes and I had to push it back flat again. This particularly happened when I was in bed and I developed a technique of placing my hand flat over it as I turned over in bed and this usually prevented any unwanted movement. I discussed this with the cardiologist and he thought that was a sensible way of dealing with it. He checked it over, saying it wasn’t in the best position but it would eventually bed in and settle down. He didn’t want to try moving it as it had been difficult to place anyway and we agreed to see how things went. The pains and the movement just gradually happened less and less but as it is quite prominent on the left hand side near my armpit, I still have to be careful not to catch underneath it, if you see what I mean, and tilt it upwards. Now I don’t have any pain at all but cannot forget that I have it in as I can both see and feel it. It does however work very well and i am much better for it. Hopefully your DH’s will settle too in time and although it was very unpleasant at times, I was reassured by the cardiologist that it did happen sometimes and was not affecting the function of the device. Advice from the cardiologist would be sensible though.

[waynor in reply to fantasyfanuk]

Many thanks, that is very helpful to know. He'll be talking to the cardiologist this coming week and can be aware of other situations like yours to be able to take in what the cardiologist says more readily.

All the best

[waynor]

Hi lots has happened since my post.

Saw consultant early August. Suggested frozen shoulder - have looked at NHS advice, which just says the cause can be difficult to establish, treatment is pain relief and physio, and that it can take a few years to settle down.

But a couple of days later, ICD shocked him repeatedly (for VT) so given an ablation op plus an Xray on the shoulder. We are waiting for physio to respond to the Xray findings. Meanwhile, we are both feeling relieved that the ICD had been fitted.

Many thanks to enonykasper, bluemoon47 and fantasyfanuk for your thoughts and reflections, they were very helpful.