pacemaker after effects

[nobby780]

I have recently had an ablation and pacemaker fitted. I now find that I have constant pain in my left shoulder and arm similar to tendons pain. Is this caused by the pacemaker being fitted?

[nobby780]

Dear Lisa
Thank you for your interest. My doctor gave me some excercises to do to ease th pain in my arm and shoulder. At first I thought that it was the usual rubbish that some GPs can give you but I have been doing these excercises for the past few weeks now and Heh! the pain is at last going away. He said that if I wanted physiotherapy I would most probably have to wait for a very long time. So, I am feeling a lot better now. Ablation settling down and pacemaker seemingly OK.

[Mom2four85]

Is that your cardiologist, EP or GP?  I think sometimes doctors just dismiss things that are wrong with patients because it's easier or they get their toes stepped on.

I did that with my EP & cardiologist by asking for a second opinion and it's the best thing I ever did.  I saw that another EP and thankfully went with my first EP; he turned out to be an excellent doctor (just a chip on his shoulder about how good of a dr he was lol)

I went for years with my PCP's telling me nothing was wrong and believed them until I ended up with a PM/ICD implanted.  There are other doctors out there and if you don't click with your doctor or he doesn't understand your needs/wants; then certainly find one that does.

Back to your original question -  I had my PM/icd implanted 1 mth ago, I still have pain & pulling in my site & incision area as well as where the leads are.  I think it's from the leads growing into the muscle?  I''m not supposed to move my arm move due to my leads moving, but that's only lead my "frozen shoulder" syndrome which is painful as well.

The way I think of it is, they cut me open inserted these leads into me and a box, there's bound to be some pain & discomfort from that being in my body.

Good lucky

[Jerry_NJ]

I agree, and my long experience what my cardiologist tells me he's happy I "help" manage my health and treatment.  I talk with him about medication dose levels and side-effects.  I even study test results, e.g., an echocardiogram last month. In it I found my left atrium had shrunk from it too large size...I had heart surgery about two years ago.  While I never spoke directly with my cardiologist I did discuss the good news with his nurse. She said he agrees that my "reading" is correct and he prescribed a follow up echo in six months to see if the good progress continues... may mean new treatment options for my AFib.

When I made a "joke" with the nurse over the telephone about not being a cardiologist myself, she commented something like:  yes, but it is good you understand you heart problem and treatment options.  I really think the improvement would have been overlooked, as I got a follow up call on the echo telling me "no change...and that is good", telling me what was really meant there were no problem areas in the cardio, but in fact no one compared the results line-by-line with my last echo about two years previous.

Bottom line, you keep working and studying to help understand and treat your health and find a doctor who appreciates the help.

[Gary3201]

If that was my Drs reaction I think I would be shopping for a new Dr. I mean seriously because you were researching your affliction to become more educated and more proactive in your treatment and recovery and then he won't discuss it? I seriously don't think thats a Dr I would want, but perhaps I am misreading you. Anyways best of luck to you keep up your interest and broaden your knowledge.

gary

[nobby780]

I have seen my doctor and he tells me that whenever I talk to a consultant about this pain he will not talk about it. Why? No one knows. However, he has given me some excercises to do but they are very painful.

[Jerry_NJ]

I think you will get some input from others with experience, but in the interim I suggest you discuss you pain with your doctor(s).  I can also say I've read many posts about some pain following the installation of a pacemaker... I think may be normal and that the pain should subside.  Your doctor is in the best position to answer your questions.