Weight lifting - worried about damage to lead

Hi all. Looking for some advice if possible.

I'm coming up to 3 years of having my PM this October. I started at the gym and mainly do cardio but yesterday thought I would try weights - I did two sets of 12 lateral raises at 4KG. Afterwards I panicked and thought oh no I haven't damaged a lead.

I've been having an on and off pinch near my left rib in a particular spot - a little lower down than my breast bone. Now, this could be a COMPLETE coincidence mixed with anxiety over the worry of pulling a lead out/damaging it. God, it could even be indigestion or something for all I know.

How likely is this? I hear conflicting things. Obviously with lat raises you don't raise above shoulder level so I'm unsure if I have actually done damage.

I did phone my pacing clinic but they were busy so I had to leave a message. I do actually have a pacemaker check next week anyway.

I should add at my last check I was only paced 2% of the time so I'm worried I wouldn't actually know if a lead had come out or dislodged.

I had the pacemaker placed for asystole.

Thank you

4 Comments

Start with lighter weights

by barnet38 - 2019-08-22 22:21:13

I agree that the pinch is muscle soreness as opposed to a problem with the device. I workout regularly and do lateral raises a couple of times a week, but only at 5, 6, or 7 pounds depending on how I feel.  I do  lots of reps with lighter weight, and fewer reps with heavier weight.  I would definitely be sore if I did 12 reps with 4kg!

Lifting weights

by AgentX86 - 2019-08-23 08:11:04

The only direction I was given about weightlifting was no free-weights more than a small amount, bench pressing in particular.  The worry is crushing the lead between the clavicle and the weight. That didn't sound fun, pacemaker or not. Weightlifting isn't my thing anyway, so didn't press further.

weights

by Tracey_E - 2019-08-23 10:56:51

There is almost no chance you damaged a lead. They are thin and flexible and intended to move with us.  If you were to damage one, it would be from a whole lot more weight and a lot more reps than that, like competition level over a long time.  I took up  Crossfit (which includes Olympic lifting) 8 years ago with my cardiologist's blessing, no restrictions, and to date, no issues with my leads. 

Keep up the exercise! Staying fit is the best thing we can do for our hearts. Ease into the weights, but don't be afraid of it. 

Not a problem (for me) on the bench press, just .....

by MartyP - 2019-08-23 13:30:11

When you set the bench, test the position of the bar when it comes down such that it doesn't come down on the PM.  I started at 90 pounds and am up to 180 on the bench press.  Goal is 200 and I'm 75 :)

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It is just over 10 years since a dual lead device was implanted for complete heart block. It has worked perfectly and I have traveled well near two million miles internationally since then.