7 days since implant and scared
Hi. This is my first post. I had my pacemaker implanted last Monday to keep me from passing out. I have vasovagal syncope. Sunday before my implant I went for a run. I was working out regularly and very active. I’m 45. Now after the implant I feel disabled. I’m not supposed to move one of my arms which is very difficult. The arm that is not the implant side is sore which I’m worried about. I don’t know if I hurt it because I have been moving only that arm. I don’t know if I can handle feeling disabled for 6 weeks. Any advice would be helpful.
3 Comments
listen to Agent
by bluevelvetcake - 2018-08-07 06:16:42
Seriously, my doctors were very liberal. By the one week appointment the surgeon told me I'm pretty free to do what I want. He was only really concerned about repitition rather than arm raising. By two weeks my new EP told me I had no restrictions. I used my arm regularly.
8 weeks later my arm is sore and stiff even though I've exercised and lifted my arm throughout. I guess subconsciously I wasn't using it the way I used to. I'm now doing light weights to stregthen it, which is helping.
My point is if you baby that arm too much you will have problems. Its the rotator cuff tendon that is tight so do not keep it immoblie. Thank God I did move it around as much as I did because if it is this stiff and sore now I can only imagine what it would have been like if I kept it completely immobile.
Life is movement
by Gotrhythm - 2018-08-07 12:48:05
Basketball, swimming and swinging an axe are probably bad ideas. Ditto weight machines. But movement of your arm in the normal activiites of daily living is not only allowed, it's neccessary.
If you really have been restricting movement to the extent that you feel disabled, you have probably tesned the other shoulder as well and you likely will need to do some gentle stretches to get the arm moving again, every day taking the stretch a liltte bit further.
No sudden moves, no jerks, but don't be afraid to swing your arms when walking, use both arms to pull on a tee shirt, wash and comb your hair, open and close a car trunk. etc.
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Disabled?
by AgentX86 - 2018-08-06 23:50:35
USE THAT ARM!
The idea is to limit extreme motion of the arm on the pacemaker side. You can, and must, use it for normal living. Just don't reach above your head or behind your back, or lift more than 10lbs. for four to six weeks. If you completely immobilize it, you'll end up with a frozen shoulder. You DO NOT want that.