Recovery after PM incision

Hello it’s been 8 wks now since my incision.  still felt the tingling pain come and go occurrences. And this morning I felt energetic doing some laundry and unloading dishwasher. Using my left arm which still has tightening on my shoulder and armpit. But afterwards I felt uncomfortable pressure/ pain in my chest. Anybody experienced this?? Just feeling impatient until when I got up in the morning feeling all this heaviness and    Pressure? And having some back pain may be from my sleeping position. I still lie flat on my back. Hesitant to turn to  my sides which I long for, particularly where the pacemaker arm. Please help  

4 Comments

Time to stretch your arm.

by Gotrhythm - 2020-02-29 16:47:20

Bad news: The less you use your arm, the tighter and more painful it will become.

The only help for it is GENTLE stretching throughout the normal range of motion. Strecth until you feel the stretch, but never past the point of pain. Try to extend the stretch a little more each day.

Don't baby your arm. If you use it, you will feel some tightnes and discomfort, but that's not a cause for alarm. The more you use it, the more you will regain the former strength and flexibility.

At this point (8 weeks) there is no reason you can't or shouldn't sleep on your side if you want to.

8 Weeks

by AgentX86 - 2020-02-29 21:31:13

It's only been eight weeks.  Expect some tingles and soreness but Gotrhythm is right.  Yuse it or lose it.  In fact, it sounds like you haven't been using your left arm enough.  The longer you wait and the more you baby it, the harder it's going to be.  You should have been using it since day-1, of course within the limits given by your EP.  Back pain is further evidence of it.  Your muscles have tightened up and lost tone.  At eight weeks, you're not going to do any damage to your leads.  Get working!

Arm pain.

by Bigdan - 2020-03-10 05:29:17

How are you getting on Hollywood?

I'm experiencing the same but am just 3week post op with a dull ache in-between shoulder and elbow and a feeling of tightness between shoulder and chest brought on by certain movements.

After reading the others comments I'm trying to use it more rather than trying to guard it which I guess isn't helping recovery.

Regards, Dan.

Tightening of shoulder to PM area

by Hollywood106 - 2020-04-23 15:27:27

Thank you very much Gotrhythm, Agent X86, Bigdan for your input and advice it helps a lot. It ease my fears. At more than 3 wks now since my incision, Still when I wake up in the morning I can feel the pressure on my PM area and the tightening on my shoulder and near armpit. Heeding your advice, it loosen up a bit. Scared I might detached something everytime I push my arms up feeling some stretching pain. I’m just wondering still the soreness when I touched or poked my arms near the tight shoulder and underneath my upper arms and armpit? And it seems I stressed moving stretching my arms that in the afternoon I can feel some twitching pain in my chest and collarbone and a bit burning pain on my PM, is this normal? It comes and but occasional. I appreciate much really of your time and help. 

 

You know you're wired when...

You can take a lickin’ and keep on tickin’.

Member Quotes

My eight year old son had a pacemaker since he was 6 months old. He does very well, plays soccer, baseball, and rides his bike. I am so glad he is not ashamed of his pacemaker. He will proudly show his "battery" to anyone.