THE most stupidest question....

I might even win an award for this one!!! :)

I have NEVER exercised in my life. I am almost 48.

However, now that I have this torn rotator cuff issue, I have to do some exercises. I went yesterday to learn some. I must admit it was fun. However, I'm amazed at what little I did, boy oh boy, am I sore today. (Yes, I'm using ice)

Anyways...what I have to do is some very basic exercises using these rather long rubber ropes. But my question is: my pacer is on the left side, my rotator cuff issue is also on the left side....some of the exercises she has me doing really really really makes me feel alot of things moving in and around my pacer and I'm wondering just how safe all of this is.

I just don't want to end up with more problems as I have enough as is.

So...all of you who exercise, particularily upper body...what can I expect??????????????

And I do go for massage therapy already so hopefully that will help.


Pookie

6 Comments

one thing physio did say...

by Pookie - 2010-02-03 03:02:25

that these exercises could help with scar tissue. and since they've been in there 5 times, it might help loosen everything up.

but I've gotta be 110% dedicated or I'll be facing a surgery called Acromioplasty.

My tear is more like a fray, like at the bottom of your jeans at the hem. (or like a frayed rope) If it were a complete tear, then they would have done surgery immediately.

Pookie

Almost Never

by bgarza - 2010-02-03 04:02:33

Can't say I "never" exercised, but "rarely" is a good word. I started exercising about a year ago but had to stop because I was dizzy most of the time due to the bradycardia. But I'm back with the program again. It's been 9 months since my PM and a month ago I started doing 2-5 lb weights for my arms (wings). I use the 2lb weights when I walk on the treadmill. As for the rubber band thing, that can be quite resistant. I'm up to the 5 lbs and also do some arm things on the machines. So far so good, no movement or achyness around the PM. The elliptical is my favorite. I found that swimming gave me the sensation that my PM was moving. I'll try swimming again this coming summer. Hang in there Pookie, you might just get hooked on exercise. It is fun working out with a friend. Take care. - Blanca

Exercise question

by tomh140 - 2010-02-03 06:02:45

Hi Pookie,

I do pushup, Wii fit and yoga and do not have any problems with my pacemaker and moving my left arm but it has been there for 7 years now. You have to monitor yourself and not overdo. I was always worried about raising my arm to many times and wearing out the leads but after wacthing my heart beat on the computer screen during my last catherization I was amazed at how much those leads are always moving and flexing every time the heart beats.

Besides it sounds like a little exercise sure beats an operation.

Tom

oh good advice

by jessie - 2010-02-04 03:02:30

really good helpful advice don...take care jessie

not ever...are you stupid....

by jessie - 2010-02-04 11:02:22

it should be okay i would think to exercise your arm....just don't go at it too strong at first until you are comfortable and confident and then you will be fine...it beats surgery....why do these guys smirk about our upper body exercises? drives me crazy.....what if we looked at something else constantly wonder what they would do with that one????lol...love you girl...hope you are getting thru the winter as all i see is snow and bad weather on the east coast....jessie p.s. got to tennesseee and had to tuen back. brother had food poisoning...

Arm Exercises

by donb - 2010-02-04 11:02:38

Hi Karen, jut me again as I went your route with Rotator Cuff and PM. I don't remember if I mentioned my history on the 2 issues. After Rotator surgery I had extensive Therapy and while doing my arm exercises I got bad chest pains, never had them before. They would come & go with exercise along with shortness of breath for a few minutes and completely go away.

Much later a Cardiolite stress test showed blockage and a heart cath test was in order. I got a RCA stent which ended my problem. BUT, now I needed Cardiac Rehab and faithfully followed through. I did a lot of arm exercise and the bench cranking machine did me in as it irritated my PM pouch so much that PM erosion started and PM had to be removed. As I am still doing Rehab with another fresh PM & leads I get enough arm exercise on the air bikes & the Elliptical. After my arm machine experience the nurses won't even let me look at those machines.

The word for everything is (Moderation). I was happy to hear that you're doing exercise for the tear. You might have hubby do good massage on your shoulder before and after as blood circulation is not great in the shoulder area. This would help healing process, worked for me.

Oh, I've got to go in Monday AM, both Sharon & I are scheduled for our routine "Rat Poison" stress test we get every other year. Good Luck getting that arm into shape.
donb

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I just want to share about the quality of life after my pacemaker, and hopefully increase awareness that lifestyles do not have to be drastically modified just because we are pacemaker recipients.