Post pace maker insertion pain. Is this normal?

Pain

by PortCityPacer - 2024-10-19 20:51:29

I can only speak for myself but I had very little pain post surgery, didn't take any pain medication at all. That said the way it was explained to me is the surgeon has to make the pocket with her/his fingers so it would seem that pain 2 days after would likely be normal.

Some pain is normal

by Andiek11 - 2024-10-19 21:56:43

Pain is a very common response to having any type of surgical procedure and each one of us perceivies pain in our own uniqueway.  I had an extremely tender shoulder for about 2-3 days post implant and then ended up with a very unexpected but major alergic reaction to the adhesive on the bandages over the wound, but all these issues resolved.  

Did you get sent home with any discharge paperwork?  It's pretty common.  And on that paperwork there should be numbers your can call if you're having problems.  (Also common signs and symptoms to watch for, etc).  Don't hesitate to call whatever numbers have been provided.   Even your doctor will have an answering service who can provided referrals / resources for how to get help after hours.  And if you're not feeling up to making the calls yourself, recruite a good friend or family member to do so. 

Hope you're feeling better soon.

Yes

by Lavender - 2024-10-19 22:31:36

Normal to be uncomfortable at times. I was told to take 650 mg Tylenol every four hours after my pacemaker insertion. I didn't need it long or all day. Healing is a process that can include a variety of sensations. Your device is most likely working fine. We are told to watch the surgery site for swelling, redness or discharge. If the site looks good, it's probably just mending inside. I had various twinges, pulling, ant bite sensation etc for the first seven months. May God bless and heal you. Hugs. 💐

Lots of pain can be normal

by IrishToast - 2024-10-19 22:37:11

Mine was completely normal, but I was in tears from the pain by the second night. ER next morning from purple hand and arm and high heart rate. It was from the pain. My PM was in an antibiotic dissolvable mesh, so was that a factor? ER doc gave me a max Tylenol schedule to stay ahead of the pain and that helped a lot.

Antibiotic Mesh

by Man21 - 2024-10-20 08:33:47

Was having the pacemaker in an antibiotic mesh a problem for you Irish toast?

My mum is having her fist PM put in on Friday and will include the antibiotics mesh.

Antibiotic mesh envelope a good thing

by IrishToast - 2024-10-20 10:00:07

I didn't know about the mesh until reading the surgical reports later. I have no idea if that made it more painful. I do think it contributed to the swollen look and puffiness.  It takes quite awhile to absorb and I  felt like I was needing to detox from it. But, considering the nasty things that can occur from infections, in hindsight if having to make that choice now, I would say yes. 

This is the one.  You may need to tap yes.  https://europe.medtronic.com/xd-en/healthcare-professionals/products/cardiac-rhythm/infection-control/tyrx-antibacterial-envelope.html

Antibiotic mesh

by Man21 - 2024-10-20 10:15:03

Thank you Irish toast.

I think my mum will have to go ahead with the mesh on Friday as the hospital stated they will add it.

It didn't seem to be a choice! 🙏 

Ice Ice baby

by Lavender - 2024-10-20 22:02:29

Forgot to mention that ice really helped me. Put a light towel where it hurts. Put an ice pack on the towel for only 15-20 minutes at a time. 😉

thoughts

by Tracey_E - 2024-10-21 09:21:41

Pain is normal, yes, we all vary how bad it is. Lavender's ice advice is spot on, that helped me more than any pain meds.

The tens feeling does not sound normal to me. If it hasn't stopped by now, I would ask for an interrogation and a wound check.

man21, the antibiotic pouches are always a good thing. Pocket infections can get serious quickly so anything that prevents it is something you want. 

pain yes, jolts no

by dwelch - 2024-10-23 23:13:55

Pain is normal and expected, night one, ebrace the suck, no sleep no way to sit or lay down that is comfortable.  first week, dont expect to lay down or be confortable for more than an hour at a time.  (yes many of us with a number of devices now, are driving to work on day three).

The one that I find the most amusing is opening wide to take a bite of something, and the neck muscles pull the skin and that skin pulls the shoulder skin which pulls on the inscision and then a sharp pane which causes a reaction to close the mouth to undo the source, have to stop eating and giggle a bit on that...which then can cause more pain jolts.

Pain will be there, ideally a little bit less each day, definitely for days, for me it is for weeks.  I use no meds nor ice, at the same time I find the edge often, today I can raise my arm this much, hey I can put a t-shirt on today, dont have to wear a button up shirt, etc.

now if the tens machine thing means you are getting electrical jolts or muscles are pulsing somewhere, anywhere at your heart rate, that is a whole other deal, call the doc.  Now the exception there if you have a biventrical the heart is not centered, etc, the left side leads may fire the belly muscles and you get some belly bumps.  I get them if I lay on my side just right or sometimes, for whatever reason if tired and standing.  If you have muscles other than your heart being jolted like a tens machine, then maybe there is an electrical leak causing something to fire (connector not secured right, or a crack in the insulation)