Pacemaker Pain

[joe160]

I have a 80-year old female friend who had a pacemaker installed five weeks ago.  Now she is experiencing sharp pains in the left breast area.

Has anyone ever encounterd this type of pain after pacemaker surgery, and if so, what was the cause and what did your doctor do to correct the problem?

Thank you.

[Mom2four85]

no the pain is not normal; it could be various things - call your doctors and get in to see them

my pain was from inflammation that was causing my heart to swell more than usual - they can treat these things before it gets too far

[grannymac750]

i had a pacemaker placed two days ago; I am 59 years old.  I had not considered having this much pain; i figured it would be similar to he surgery pain after an ablation.  This pain is HORRENDOUS!  I cannot lie down at all; i have to sleep sitting up because if I go to either side or back, it feels as though my entire chest is caving in.  the pain is more than i can bear!  If this is normal, I will just wait it out.  I take oxycontin for other chronic pain but it does nothing for this pain, and the doctor was understanding, giving me breakthrough meds.  it helps with the 'day pain' but absolutely nothing will allow me to lie down all the way without that feeling of chest caving.  IS THIS NORMAL?  

[Brooke_38]

Hello...

Sorry to hear about your friends pain.  Pain like this after a pacemaker implant, is not considered normal. She should definitely communicate with her doctor about the problem and if they can't address the problem, find another doctor that will.  

  It may or may not be related to the pacemaker, but needs to be addressed.  In rare circumstances with pacemaker pocket pain, they can remove the device and implant on the other side.   It may take some time to figure out the problem but she should be persistent so that she is not in continual pain.

I sure hope that she finds some relief from this:)