Burning sensation in shoulder near site?

I am a 44 year old female and 48 hrs post-op - received my first PM, dual lead, to preemptively address Lev-Lenegre (progressive conduction) disease that has been progressively getting worse over the past 5 years, before I get to complete heart block and start fainting. So I'm fortunate to have it implanted only as a backup for now, so I can adjust before it becomes life-critical. The procedure was same-day outpatient, incision is diagonal slot running from left armpit up toward collarbone, and there are internal stitches (including the leads stitched to underlying muscle) but the wound is sealed with this crazy purple surgical glue that makes my skin bunch up like a raisin.

My issue is that aside from the achy pain that I felt (and expected) immediately post-op around the site, by the next morning, I felt a burning/stinging sensation in the patch of skin to the left of the site over the front of my left shoulder, which is very sensitive to the touch. I had to abandon the comfy yoga/sports bra in favor of a strapless and switch to a shirt with an edge that did not touch the site because just that light pressure was excruciating, even on 5-325 percocet. No redness or rash where I feel the burning, and the wound looks fine (bruised and a little swollen but normal for this stage of the game, no oozing, no fever). I called to ask the nurse about this and they said they see that sometimes, but didn't have a definitive explanation - maybe a reaction to the local, maybe the compound they use to prep the site...

I will have them check it on Fri if no improvement but meanwhile, has anyone had this and gotten a definitive answer what causes it? And how do you treat it? I did not want to be on percocet this long but tried tylenol only and was sorry. Can I ice it? Put lidocaine on it? Thanks for the benefit of your experience!

4 Comments

post op left shoulder pain

by Selwyn - 2017-06-22 12:02:47

There can be no definate answers given the information provided. We are not in a position to see and examine. Who knows, next week you may have shingles in the area?!

During surgery, not only is there tissue swelling from the local anaesthetic, there is also movement of tissues ( skin, fat) in order to gain surgical access around the wound to place your little box of electronics.  There can be internal bruising (the  bruise can take some time to come to the skin surface) and tracking of blood into spaces.

You should continue to monitor for infection as pain is part of the inflammatory process associated with infection ( along with hotness, redness and swelling- these should all be lessening).

I would not be putting anything near your wound as this increases the chances of infection, wound dehiscence, and allergy. I cannot see ice doing any harm as long as it is not in direct contact with the skin and the wound stays dry. 

This is, as I say, not a definate answer.  A few days of pain killers are really not going to do you much harm if taken as instructed.

Shingles is certainly associated with stress and lowered immunity.

Selwyn

 

Ice is nice

by Gotrhythm - 2017-06-22 17:45:05

No thoughts on the cause, but I'm sorry you're having discomfort.

You have already checked and know there's little reason to worry that infection is brewing.

That being the case, for myself, I'm a great believer in the therapeutic power of ice. Getting the area nice and cold can reduce swelling, give the nerves a chance to calm down, and you to get some rest.

Ice is my pain reliever

by Debbie-55 - 2017-06-23 18:04:58

I am 3 days post op of a crt-d and find ice the best medicine. I was in the hospital overnight and have only used over the counter Tylenol and ice. At the hospital my nurse had a pacemaker and he said ice was his best friend. I agree. Everyone is different but when you are in pain, I am willing to try what others found comfort in.  Keep trying things that may have helped you from other experiences. Good luck ❤️

thanks for the comments

by sshalf - 2017-06-23 18:34:23

Thanks to everyone for the comments. Now 4 days post-op, I am off percocet and used only Tylenol yesterday, no painkillers today The burning now feels more like a sunburn, so tolerable without meds. My suspicion is that it's neuropathic pain from nerve endings that were cut or irritated by the procedure (or by the local anesthesia), and I didn't feel it until they started to heal, which is why it peaked 24 hrs after the procedure. I haven't tried ice but for future reference I imagine it would work. I found a little bit of relief with topical lidocaine. I will know for the future!

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