After 11 weeks back to the gym :)

Hi all pacemaker club members,

I am Peter from Slovakia, I am 31 years old sporty guy, I did a plenty of sporting activities (went to gym 3-4 x a week, martial arts, kiteboarding, wakeboarding, snowboarding and so on)
At 24Jul2015 I got my dualchamber Medtronic DR MRI device as result of SSS.

In september I started physiotherapeutical rehabilitation, to get the left arm back in correct movement, in meantime I was doing 30 minutes cardio on bike almost every day.

After 11 weeks yesterday I went back to the gym. I did treadmill cardio, also excersises with fitball and light weights.
It felt little weird after 3 months,but I am definitely glad being back :)

According to these fact, I strongly recommend to everybody to take some time of until the leads and pockets heals and then start to go back to your workout routine slowly step by step.

Regards,

Peter F.

13 Comments

Check with

by Theknotguy - 2015-10-12 01:10:33

Check with TraceyE on the forum. If she doesn't chime in, send her a private message. She has a very active exercise program including weight lifting. She has pointers on what to do with weights.

I went the work route and lift "weights" as 90 pound 4x8 sheets of wood.

I think doctors are more concerned about rapid repetitive motions similar to what you would do when you bend a paper clip and cause the metal to fail because of fatigue. I do a lot of repetitive motion doing woodwork with no problems.

Hope your exercise program goes well.

Second Opinion

by oldearthworm - 2015-10-12 05:10:21

Definitely ask for a second opinion ..speak to a sports specialist .. but he should also know PM wiring .

11 wks back to gym

by Andyfoo - 2015-10-12 12:10:22

Hi Pfarkas,
I read with much interest on your aggressive approach back to the gym after only 11 weeks. I am not a young man like you but I do go to the gym doing what I can....one day Cardio with stationary bike and another day on upper body starting with chest, deltoids, biceps, tripceps and lats alternating other days. That was before I did the implant of the pacemaker with dual wires. My doctor has told me that I cannot do weights anymore for fear that it might damage the wires. I dont think this is logical as I only will do for example 80 lbs long bar bench press, 70 lbs deltoids and about 30 lbs dumbell curl. What is your opinion? Your doctor told you anything about doing weights? By the way I am 67 years old. Like to hear from you.

Andy

Confused about Exercise

by vegigran - 2015-10-13 01:10:43

I was told not to raise my left arm above my shoulder for 6 months, or to lift more than 10 pounds, and not to stretch that arm too far. This is so that the leads will scar over and hold in place. My PM implant was so painful, I would hate to pull a wire loose and have to have it repaired. It's been 3 weeks today and I still tie my arm down to my side when I go to bed so I don't accidentally stretch above my head while I'm asleep.

Exercises

by Andyfoo - 2015-10-13 02:10:00

Thanks Peter for the very useful information you have given on the exercise recovery program. I shall use the guidelines as stated by you and I am sure this piece of information will be very useful to all members of this forum in one way or another. Thanks also to "Theknotguy"
"oldearthworm" "vegigran" & Zetha for participating so enthusiastically in this forum. I am indeed fortunate to be assoicated with you guys.

Andyfoo

my snorkel-swim-water therapy

by Bhamster - 2015-10-13 06:10:01

Congrats and thanks to all!

Last week at 8 weeks post implant I started back in the sea. Took it slow and easy wearing a snorkeling flotation vest, mask and fins. I started with light range of motion - slow circular hand and arm movement to treading water with elbows close to my side. Then some light kicking to move forward with elbows bent and hands below my face and shoulder level. It felt great and really loosened my left shoulder. I've been back out twice with more gains each time. I'm not doing any freestyle or overhead strokes, or any reach and stretch, sticking to a conservative range of motion. I've been a little sore, but with no pain or swelling, and what a difference it makes mentally and physically after a 3 month absence. Anyhow, I highly recommend gentle water therapy for anyone that feels up to it. Even a very shallow pool where you can sit and anchor your elbow and slowly move your torso and arms around.

Kindest,

Rod

Great!

by Zetha - 2015-10-13 06:10:24

That's great Peter, I cannot wait for my cardiologists go ahead (hopefully) at my next week's 6 week check_up!

my experience

by Pfarkas - 2015-10-13 06:10:29

Dear Andyfoo,

shortly my experience was that
-after 3 weeks I started to use stationary bike between 20-30 minutes a day
-after 6 weeks I was able to slowly but not completely raise my left hand above my arm
-after 9 weeks I went to one clinic specialized in physiotherapy of patients which underwent different upperbody surgeries(also pacemaker impl.), I was showed what kind of exercises should I perform in order to strengthen the left arm and wires in place
-now I am performing these exercises almost on daily basis
-yesterday I was again to the gym, but I strictly work out for next 2 month only with low weight max. 10 kilograms, most of the times even with only1-2 kgs.
- I am continuing my 30 minutes/day cardio activity- either bike or treadmill

Overall I am following the slow step by step routine I was told by physiotherapeutist (as from Cardiologist perspective I am okay, due the fact I had only SSS and not any other mechanical issue with the heart).

Kind Regards

Peter F.

Vegigran's comment

by JenSF - 2015-10-15 09:10:47

Hi all,

Just wanted to make a quick response to Vegigran's comment that she was told not to move her arm over her head for 6 months. Although it is very important to give time for the leads to settle into place, that seems really long to me. If you don't move your arm for that long, you really risk getting "frozen shoulder" where you have much less mobility than previously. Or did you mean to say 6 weeks?

Peter, I think it's awesome that you were able to see a specialist who gave you exercises to strengthen and stretch your arm safely. I really wish I had asked for physical therapy following my last surgery, because I still have some mobility issues from not using my arm for so long.

Jen

hi everyone

by swampy - 2015-10-19 11:10:42

iv been on the pbr tour now for 3 years and am needing a dual pm and i would really like to stay riding bulls just woundering what every ones thorts on that and how i could do it with out damaging my wires

PM club

by LeeT - 2015-10-20 06:10:06


Your doctor is the person who will save your life do as you're told, listen to your doctor and you will be ok. With any surgery one must heal.

bull riding

by LeeT - 2015-10-20 06:10:48

I hope your joking or perhaps you have not held a conference with your doctor. Your wires are attached to your heart, your heart keeps you alive,,,, your choice PM or the other. It's clear you may need a new job so sorry.

Sorry I waited !!

by lahbigbro6 - 2015-10-22 09:10:31

I only do light aerobics and light weights. But, I am so sorry I waited too long before raising my arm. I got my 2nd pacemaker installed 2011 and didn't raise my arms above my head for a long time. Now I do aerobics via dvd and find I am tight and not as loose. I never had rehab or anything after any of my pacemakers and no guidance except "DO NOT LIFT ARM ABOVE SHOULDERS." But, the doctors do not guide people who want to exercise. Now, I am stretching that area. The next pacemaker I will most definitely go sooner !!!

You know you're wired when...

Airport security gives you free massages.

Member Quotes

So, my advice is to go about your daily routine and forget that you have a pacemaker implanted in your body.