@beautifulgiraffe
I am on my 3 ICD/Pacemaker. My first was in 2006. I have posted many times that all three of my device were placed below my chest pectoral muscle. I have the pocket which keeps if from moving around.

I have issues with using my left arm above my head, to far backward, and across body. It hurts and causes discomfort. I have learned to not use my left arm in those extreme positions. I do swim and do not reach out as far with left arm as I do with right. When doing water aerobics I do not raise my left arm above my head.

I had to give up tennis as I had a lead come out after first implant. My Pace Nurse said from her experience (10 years) that she has found those who play avid tennis or fish a lot have had issues with leads coming out. However, my EP said he wanted me to go back to playing tennis as one of the reason to put device in so could play. But wire came out the first check after I had the surgery and was back playing tennis.

So I took up doing Sprint Triathons although usually at end of the pact when finishing.

I don't feel cramp or Charlie horse but will feel a strain around the device area and if continue will start to cause slight pain. I stop at the earliest sign of pain. I still forget sometimed but my chest muscle will remind me very quickly.

I too have found very few that have had their devices put below their chest muscle. What my EP surgeon told me was my skin was not sufficent to do below skin and also wanted to do the below chest muscle because I was so active.

Hello beautifulgiraffe

I am afraid I am going to disappoint you. I just tried what you described - reaching behind my right should with my left hand - and, well, I did not experience any discomfort.

You don't mention how long you have had your implant. If you received very recently, as in the last 2 months, it is not advised to do any reaching either above your head or behind your back, as per your recovery protocol.

However, if you have had it for sometime and are still experiencing limitations in your range of motion, I do remember that it took a good 24 months or so for all the aches and sharp twinges to go away. And it took about that long to fully regain my range of motion. But if you have had the discomfort for some time, I am wondering, if scar tissue - or fibrosis - isn't the culprit. If so, perhaps some guided physical therapy , teaching you targeted controlled stretching exercises, might help to increase your range of motion. I found such therapy helped me.

Another thing I do, because it does provide some gentle stretching exercise for my arms and shoulders, is tai chi. There is an excellent short (as in 7 minutes) video on YouTube, that I find to be very helpful with gentle arm movements. I could send you the link if you are interested.

I continue to do the stretching exercises I was taught. I do not believe that internal scar tissue ever goes away but with some gentle exercises, you may be able to reach behind your back with your left hand. And let me know if you are interested in the YouTube link.

All the best.