Muscle spasms after implant

Hi, I had a pacemaker inplanted at the end of January 2010 and was put on Xanax for anxiety. I am finally getting off the Xanax and now I am having some pretty strong muscle spasms around the area of the pacemaker. My doc doesn't seem too worried, says it takes about 6 months. I am 5'11" and weigh around 155 lbs. so I don't have a lot of flesh around the pacemaker. My wife thinks it just muscle spasms that may be worse since I am so thin. Does anyone else have this kind of problem or have had it. Sometimes they hit hard and are more frequent since I've gone off the Xanax. Any respones would be appreciated.

Thanks!

8 Comments

Muscle twitches

by westj814 - 2010-05-20 04:05:54

I had my PM inplanted in November 2009. I started having muscle twitches in January. They were quite strong until about a month ago when they became less frequent. Doctors don't seem to know what is causing them, however my cardiologist had me start taking a magnesium tablet once a day. Magnesium helps nerves and muscles, so I am assuming it had lessened the twitches. They seem to be in my abdomen and happen more when I lie down. Maybe I just notice them more then because I am resting. I am quite small also. Don't know if this contributes to it or not. Let us know if they stop.

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Might be the leads

by cruz - 2010-05-20 07:05:58

They weren't able to get the "ideal" placement for one of my leads and it causing twitching, mostly when I lay down and always if I lay on my left side. They said it's the lead and it's hitting a nerve and suggested I "re-adjust" my position..seriously, that's the solution.I'm way to zonked out as it is, and if I took a Xanax, I would be afraid they would declare me in a permanent vegetative state, although Xanax would be nice if it alleviated some of the anxiety. Sorry I couldn't be more helpful. If it's any consolation, many of us have these little impulses, twitches, pinching thingies going on. Mine are actually starting to get a little better.

Magnesium

by Pookie - 2010-05-20 09:05:18

Hi.

I haven't experienced what you describe...however, I have been diagnosed with Junctional Rhythm. When this happens my heart would thump & pound very very hard (not fast)...so I started taking 250mgs of Magnesium, gave up as much caffeine as I could, and now this thumping & pounding as almost disappeared.

Magnesium may help you too....perhaps you could discuss it with your doctor.

Take care,
Pookie

High-Voltage

by Bob C - 2010-05-27 05:05:42

I had my PM implant done on 4/12/2010 and had problems with spasms on my left side. It felt like something kicking me from inside, like what a female may feel when a baby kicks (I guess). Anyway, the doctor lowered the voltage on the PM and the problem went away.

twitching, spasms, pinching feeling at PM site

by nm - 2010-06-03 09:06:45

I seem to have these feelings at my PM site, too. I am now 2 months since the surgery. The nurse told me that it is the nerves healing as they were cut during the surgery to make the pocket for the PM. My arm is very sore, too. I have been walking since a week after surgery but have not returned to the Y for exercise classes. I do not feel up to that. I sure hope that it will not take 6 months to completly heal but figure that may be what it will be as have seen that info here before. Hope everyone heals quickly.

Occasional spasm in lower back

by Graebeard - 2013-02-20 11:02:17

I had my PM implanted on the left side a week ago and started having spasms on the right side only when lying down either on my right side or on my back but slightly turned to the right. Interestingly, it occurred only as I started a slow inhale. A strong inhale had no such effect. It was not directly PM caused as I could hold my breath for a few beats before a slow inhale. I talked to the Technician at my first follow-up and she felt it was not caused by the PM but had no other possibilities. I also found that bringing my right arm across my chest prevented the spasms. I'll have to wait and see what happens in the future.

PM Muscle Spasm Resolved

by Graebeard - 2013-03-10 01:03:08

As noted in my previous comment, I was experiencing muscle spasms and have now found the cause. I noticed they tended to occur when I was relaxed, so I measured my pulse at those times and found that it was very close to my low BPM threshold of 60. I asked my pacemaker nurse to reduce the pacing rate from 60 to 50 and she also lowered the output voltage from 3.5 volts to 2.25.

That was a couple of days ago, and I have had no recurrence of the spasms.

This solved my problem; it may help others out there.

Spasms with PM

by Bomsue - 2018-07-10 00:01:13

I had my PM implanted end March 2018! Get some weird spasms middle chest weird feeling. Sometimes more than other times. Not sure if influenced by eating, gas ( stomach issues), getting emotional etc. Goes away for awhile then comes back! Sometimes often during day other times less. Checkup after one month did not show these spasms. Trying make sense of it! All in all much better with PM pulse good more energy. Anybody experience similar issues?Wondering if location of leads exacerbates it (small frame and reflux).

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