Numbness at site

Hi, I’m 27, just had my first pacemaker placed. I’m two weeks post op and still have numbness surrounding the incision site, it extends about 1 inch below the incision. Wondering if this is permanent or will eventually go away. I was not put under general anesthesia for my procedure, had a numbing agent and conscious sedation with versed and fentanyl.

3 Comments

Some numbness

by Theknotguy - 2018-10-20 15:01:08

Some numbness around the site is to be expected.  They cut nerves getting the pacemaker in.  It should eventually go away.  There are a variety of sensations you may get as the skin tissue and underlying tissue starts to heal.  Some people report "ant bites" as the nerves heal.  Some get an itching feeling.  I got both an itching and a bruised feeling in the area.  It's all normal.  As long as you aren't running a fever or having chills you shouldn't have to worry.  

I used to have a YouTube video of a pacemaker implant.  Pretty graphic. This recent one I found is fairly neat and doesn't show them working on the wound site.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1HKeBTuT4k 

Another one I found shows the guy moving the needle around like it's a joystick in a computer game.  After seeing that you wonder why you aren't more sore than you feel.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sy2i9j3BPSc&list=PLrZOgVUB4AkZxrGnRL9OEFW1fxXEEoaCI&index=1

The last one shows them creating the pacemaker pocket.  I'm glad I was unconscious while they were doing that.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6uTXOQebkc&list=PLrZOgVUB4AkZxrGnRL9OEFW1fxXEEoaCI&index=2

After you see the YouTube videos, if you can get through them that is, you can understand why it takes weeks to heal.  Like I said, glad I was out for the procedure.  

Hope everything else is going well for you.  
 

Thank you!

by Lilah_Mae - 2018-10-20 15:17:43

Thank you! That helps a lot. I’m not too squeamish thankfully. There were some complications during my procedure too and it took about twice as long as usual. I was pretty swollen and sore the first week but now I have to keep reminding myself of my restrictions and not to do too much. 

Impossible to tell

by AgentX86 - 2018-10-21 20:34:07

After my CABG my chest was numb from nipple to nipple (and the nipples were excruciatingly sensitive ;-).  After several months my right side recovered but I still have very little feeling on the left side (other than pain from the pectorals).  Both sides still itch like hell at times.  It's been four years, so I don't expect the feeling to return. I've had my PM for none mnths and didn't have a similar problem but the scar is still sensitive to the touch.  One thing you'll learn on this forum is that we're all different.  What is extremely painful to some is a nothing to others.

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