CRT pacemaker

[Ang5b]

Hi, Just had a CRT pacemaker fitted. No complications. Cannot believe all my aches, ie, back ache and leg aches when I sent off walking have gone. I didn’t know they were related to my heart failure.

The appointment to get it fitted came around extremely quickly. I couldn’t understand it as with meds my EF has gone from 35 to 41. However after last echo I noticed my QRS recording on my ecg had gone to 144. Not good. Has anyone else had this ? Has it recovered after CRT pacemaker? Thank you Angela

[bridgeit]

Hello Ang,

I can offer this regarding your back/leg pains following pacemaker fitting.

If you were under local anaesthesia (conscious) while the device was being fitted, you will have been given some very heavy duty pain killing medication for the duration of the procedure and recovery.

As a result, you may not have realized that you were being propped uncomfortably, i.e. a nerve along your (probably lower) back was being irritated. Without pain killers, you would have been aware of this immediately and shifted position. However, if you remained in one position for several hours with a pinched nerve that you could not feel, the consequence is that the nerve will be inflamed and angry for a long time afterwards. Nerve tissue always take the longest time to heal, sometimes up to 2 years.

How do I know this? My mother had a pacemaker fitted under local anaesthesia. When she was discharged, she complained of severe back and leg pain on her left side. The GP diagnosed sciatica. For almost two years she was in quite some pain, which resolved eventually. The GP's advice was that she had been kept, semi-propped in a hospital bed, very likely completely unaware owing to pain killers that she was being kept in a very uncomfortable position indeed. Apparently, this outcome is not uncommon.

The pacemaker did an excellent job. The sciatica was an unexpected (but not unknown) side effect, but it did eventually pass.

My recommendation? See your GP, just to make sure you're experiencing generic back ache, then use physiotherapy and whatever pain killer your GP recommends until the issue resolves. The main thing, once it's diagnosed, is to keep moving.

I hope this is helpful!

[Ang5b in reply to bridgeit]

Hi, thank you for taking the time to reply. Apologies, I must have mislead you. My aches and pains have disappeared after having pacemaker fitted. I didn’t know they were related to my heart failure, but am delighted they have gone. Glad to hear your mum is doing well, and thank you

[Lucy61]

Yes I've had the same 67 year old female it will all fall into place I feel as fit as anything now I owe everything to my cardiac team at kings college hospital london

[Ang5b]

fantastic news. Thank you 😊

[Wire57]

Hi Ang5b

I had a similar experience, once the pain killers from the operation wore off I was astounded to find out I didn’t have a headache. I know this seems a funny comment to make but all my life I’d had a headache and thought that everyone had the same. I used to be amazed that other people could move their head violently without being ill. Now at 66 for the last four years of being headache free I can do cartwheels and trampoline with my granddaughters (but only when my wife’s not watching).

Take care and may the pain free times continue