repetitive motions

greetings all:
i have been reading the posts concerning repetitive movements and their effects on PM leads. obviously, the designers of the PMs took these types of motions into consideration when producing the PMs but i am still a bit concerned about the effects of these types of movements. the discussions centered around weight lifting but what about other movements such as trimming trees/shrubs with a non-power tool or raking debris, swimming etc. these are all repetitive movements that utilize the pectoral muscles and cause shifting of the PM and i would think the leads as well.
thanks,
steve

5 Comments

repetitions...

by Swedeheart - 2008-03-31 03:03:09

I asked about repetitive movements in my arms with the Medtronic tech and nurse at my last interrogation. I specifically asked about using the computer ~ as I type alot. They said that wouldn't be an issue. I did not, however, ask about things like gardening... I sort of got the impression that once a person passes the 8 week mark without trouble you were pretty "good to go" unless you managed to injure the site or really yank or stress the area. (Weightlifting might do that, I don't know...) I generally try to use my right arm for anything strenuous. I really don't want to injure my leads...

Swedeheart

repetitive motion

by ElectricFrank - 2008-03-31 04:03:55

I doubt anything we can do comes anywhere near the repetitive motion the heart puts on the leads. 100 strong beats per minute or more must really give it a workout.

There was a video on utube that shows the leads inside a beating heart wildly flopping around.

frank

another query

by sugarmagnolia - 2008-03-31 05:03:56

i have a dual lead medtronic adapta and pace nearly 100% in the right atria and none in the right ventricle. if the atrial lead were damaged, how would one know? i presume that the right ventricle would begin pacing and would not be as efficient and hence lead to a return of symptoms?
thanks!

Need to discuss with surgeon

by axg9504 - 2008-03-31 08:03:52

which is something I wish I had done, the routing of the leads and how they can be caused to move during daily routines. I think the initial concern right after surgery, when they tell you no extreme stretching for 2 (sometimes 3 weeks) is to get the leads situated firmly in the heart. After that I'm not sure what exactly can happen to the rest of the configuration. The PM is in a pocket, there is a loop of wire that they make around the pocket before the lead enters the vein. Is it sutured at the vein? I believe I read that somewhere. I know my doc told me that my 'PM is not going to move very much'.

There are programming changes that they can make if leads are compromised. Partial breaks can be circumvented by stepping up the voltage. They can also change pacing modes, which may not be desirable but better than the alternative of replacing the leads

Sneezing

by heckboy - 2008-04-07 09:04:38

I'm surprised my leads don't pop out when I sneeze!

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But I think it will make me feel a lot better. My stamina to walk is already better, even right after surgery. They had me walk all around the floor before they would release me. I did so without being exhausted and winded the way I had been.