Post-op psin

Hello yet again. I had a CRT-P implanted almost 5 days ago and the incision is extremely painful. The doctor's office was able to call in a prescription for 12 tablets of hydrocodone w/acetaminophen but I've only taken a couple since Saturday. I've been using a combination of two extra strength Ibuprofen and one extra strength tylenol together every 6 hours that my PCP had recommended.He said that particular combination works really well as an alternative to opiods for a ruptured L5-S1 and it actually does work pretty well.  Although... I usually go longer mostly because I just forget to take them. 

My incision stings or burns if I move my arm at all and last night I woke up over and over from the pain.  I spent several hours working on Christmas bows and and decorations for a Christmas Tree for our local hospital foundation's Annual Festival of Trees. My trees usually bring in $2,000 to $3,000 at the Gala auction and I had committed last year and only found out a couple weeks ago that I needed a new pacemaker. I had two people to help decorate today so I wouldn't overdo by reaching etc. The incision does look somewhat red.

Because of the holiday I'm not scheduled for my post-op follow-up until next Monday but I'm not sure I should wait that long. What makes it tough is that the doctor is over an hour away. 

Has anyone out there had similar pain following an implant? Ok gotta get to bed even though I'm dreading it. Good night. 

Damie Rodriguez 

3 Comments

Post op pain

by Aberdeen - 2020-11-24 09:23:02

Damie, I don’t think it should be so painful. I had a CRT-p implanted in May and the incision was not painful at all. I hope you get an appointment soon!

Sharp pain

by quikjraw - 2020-11-24 09:43:41

Hi Damie,

I only had a normal pacemaker but i had extremely sharp pains that would occur if I moved my head or mouth in certain position and I found I could touch a part of my neck about 2 or 3 inches above the incision that would replicate this sharp pain in the actual incision.

I told the nurse on the first check up (6 days after the insertion) and she says this was normal and would ease. 

I can say that she was correct and the sharpness has pretty much disappeared. 

If yours is very sharp it could be the nerve and maybe it will subside as mine did after about 10 days. Though I was taking parcetamol 1000mg and codeine 8mg at bed time to help me sleep. I have stopped taking that now as I do not think it is a good idea to take for more than 3 days.

I hope you get some sleep and respite soon.

Kind regards John

 

 

 

 

Pain meds

by AgentX86 - 2020-11-24 14:32:08

I've found that you have to stay out in front of pain. If you wait until the pain is bad, meds are a lot less effective than if they're taken on a regular schedule. There is nothing wrong with opiods, taken for six days (if needed) but forgetting or switching to NSAIDS and back  may be ineffective. The two work in different ways and aren't really complementary.

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I wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for pacemakers. I've had mine for 35+ years. I was fainting all of the time and had flat-lined also. I feel very blessed to live in this time of technology.