ICD complications

[Farage]

Hello everyone

This is my first post on this site. I had an ICD fitted last August after I had a major heart attack that resulted in heart failuer. As I was having some issues with the pocket my cardiologist decided to go back in and bury the ICD deeper into the muscle. This was done in early March. Since then I have had pain at the site and also in my neck and left arm. I am unable to use my left arm due to the pain. Has anyone else had simmilar problems?

[RufusScamp]

This sounds unpleasant. I had one fitted 18 months ago, and have been unaware of it after the first few days as the wound healed. What you are suffering is not right. Can you contact your cardiologist, otherwise your GP?

[Eastwood25]

Hi, I had my ICD implanted Feb 20(for second time as wires came out from ist implantation Jan 20), they also put mine into my muscle, the pain was much worse the second time, a lot of pain in my left arm and around the ICD itself- they did warn me my arm would be ‘sore’ but that didn’t touch the surface lol.i think it was due to the nerves and that they went in for a second time only 4 weeks later. I still get tenderness but it’s much better now, I would give your pacing clinic a call to discuss they’re normally very helpful.

[Farage in reply to Eastwood25]

Thanks for the advice and support. I have calls into my heart failure nurse and also the cardiologist and waiting for a call back. Good to know that I am not alone

[MDR1]

Hi I had an ICD implanted in January last year and have always been able to feel it. The pacing clinic have checked it out and said it's fine. But then I started getting pain in my left arm whenever I stretch it. I'm going to contact them again but I dread the thought of correction surgery. Hope you get it sorted out.

[Farage in reply to MDR1]

Thanks for the support. I hope your arm pain gets identified and treated. Keep well

[MDR1]

Thank you

[Hannah-Hay]

I had mine fitted Sep 2020 & don’t like the fact that it is almost into my arm pit & causes pain at times. It would be better if it was moved a fraction away from arm pit. Have told cardiologist who doesn’t want to re-site it & just says it can be done when device is changed. They don’t recharge the battery. I said well 8 years is a long time to wait but I don’t really fancy going through it all so am just putting up with it! The pain I get isn’t constant thankfully.

[Farage in reply to Hannah-Hay]

The problem I had with mine was it was hitting off my clavicle and causing pain. The cardiologist was reluctant to move it as it may cause infection. I asked for it just to be removed and at that point he said he would move it. Bit of a drastic measure and a big risk but the tactic worked

[KentFox]

Hi there, after I had my ICD fitted I found that after I started exercising the shoulder (following the 6 week period when I was told to rest the left shoulder) the movement in my left shoulder was painful and very restricted, I also found it difficult to sleep on my left side. I was referred for physiotherapy and that significantly helped the issue. I am currently having problems with face swelling and talking to my cardiologist to assess if the ICD has had any impact on that.