Amount of time to heal

varies

by Tracey_E - 2020-06-17 08:43:27

You can be out walking now. My doc said not to get sweaty or go swimming for 4 weeks due to infection risk, you want the incision all healed up before getting around bacteria. I was told ease back into it after 4 weeks, don't swing a golf club for 3 months. Go by how you feel. Some can run right away but mine is subpectoral, so buried deeper, and I'm not flatchested so it took some time until the impact of running didn't make it sore. I was back at the gym (Crossfit) at 4 weeks and 1 day but took it easy. It was about 3 months before I was back to my full routine, my old weights, and not feeling any twinges. Not saying it hurt that long, that's how long it took until I was no longer so aware of it and compensating for it. You'll be able to tell when it's too much, and expect it to get sore at first because working out will aggravate fresh scar tissue. Ice helps. If it doesn't feel right, back off and try it again in a week. 

Feeling Similar

by JerseyGM - 2020-06-17 14:23:09

I'm at one week today since implant and want to get moving a bit but also do not want to cause any problems. I am constantly worried about reaching, lifting, bending during normal daily activity of living.

Feeling Similar

by JerseyGM - 2020-06-17 14:23:09

I'm at one week today since implant and want to get moving a bit but also do not want to cause any problems. I am constantly worried about reaching, lifting, bending during normal daily activity of living.

It depends

by Cybork - 2020-06-17 20:49:40

I think it's important to acknowledge that PMs are inserted for different reasons, thus different levels of caution are advised. 

Noting that I, I think you're on the right track Seanda. I was advised 8 weeks for most activities but to introduce some mild ones at 6 weeks. Not allowed to lift arm above shoulder height for 2 weeks, and could resume daily tasks around 4 weeks. However, I think they told me conservative numbers as they knew I'd push the limits haha

What I did find though, was in an effort to remind myself not to use my arm I subconsciously curled it in, like it was injured. This really did a number on my posture and has taken me a year to coax my shoulder back into the right position. 

Thanks for comments

by seanda - 2020-06-18 01:58:50

Much appreciated PM team. Good to know what's up around the community ( lucky I'm not a golfer). Cybork, same deal with pampering the arm and maybe doctor extra conservative since knowing I'll want to push it too early. Went on a long walk and had pain in my shoulder. Figured out my posture was way off, which was causing discomfort. 

Reigniting your sport life after PM fitment.

by Laurie Stone - 2020-06-23 10:12:18

Hi,

I had extreme Bradycardia from too many marathons (63!) and had a PM fitted in July 2018. I took it slowly for 8 weeks (walking, treadmill and orbitrak). I then went back to MTB , building up to my first 60km race in late 2018.I now do regular 10 - 10 km runs and gym almost daily. Last year in December I completed a 51.50 Triathlon (1.5km swim, 40 km cycle, 10km run) - no problems (OK... I WAS pretty tired when I hit the finish line!!). My PM is under the skin on my right shoulder - I'm left handed. I think it's good to allow the leads time to settle and attach to the heart so taking it slow in the beginning makes sense to me and as Tracey says, give the incisions time to heal.

Hope this helps.

Laurie Stone (63 years old)

So Helpful

by ShanaBer - 2020-06-27 13:43:27

I have only had my PM a few days and am already wanting to be active even though I feel exhausted. It is good to read that you all are back out running and working out. It gives me hope that I will be back out there too eventually. 

There are things that come up here that I had never thought to consider like the issue of the PM moving/hurting when I run!

One question, are you able to get back to lifting weights without issue once it is healed completely?