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Pain around pacemaker site

Posted by dorothynoz45 @dorothynoz45, Jun 22, 2019

I am getting very frustrated with this situation. I have had my pacemaker for over 2 years and I still have the same cramping ache at the site that I experienced after the implant. No one takes me seriously. I have been trying to rattle the cardiology office cage for a week and 1/2 now. Several weeks ago it got worse; woke me up at night and in the morning it hurt so bad that twice I couldn't stand straight. It seems to harder to stand up when I get up and start moving. I can't get past the phone nurse. She left a voice mail for me ' that it couldn't possibly be the device because I've had it so long. That it must be something else.' Dr. told me they could re position it but didn't like to for fear of infection. I am posting because after this long of time, although I've been told nothing can be done about it, I don't want this in my life anymore. Has this happened to anyone else?

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angelinejovan | @angelinejovan | Jun 29 2:38pm
In reply to @dorothynoz45 "Kanaaz, I do apologize that I have waited so long to respond to your kind inquiry..." + (show)
Profile picture for dorothynoz45 @dorothynoz45

Kanaaz, I do apologize that I have waited so long to respond to your kind inquiry about my pm pain. Progress is slow, isn't it? An x-ray shows that I have AC joint arthritis. I have waited 3 weeks tomorrow to hear from a dr who is going to give me some kind of nerve ending tests. Next week I see an orthopedic dr The pain hasn't bothered me recently although I could hardly sit in church about 2 weeks ago because of it. It is definitely related to activity although the pain seems to be directly over my pacemaker site. I just can't figure and why did the pain start at the exact same time I received my pacemaker?

Thank you again for asking. It takes time and I'm going to guess that most of us are short on patience. Oops! I sure am.

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I have pain/ache over my site occasionally- was told it was scar tissue from the surgery. Surgery was 8 years ago. It is painful but doesn't last - i can tell it's not my heart as my pacemaker is almost under my left arm - thats where the pain/ache is. I do hope you get an answer to yr issue.

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3 replies
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jc76 | @jc76 | Jun 29 4:44pm
In reply to @angelinejovan "I have pain/ache over my site occasionally- was told it was scar tissue from the surgery...." + (show)
Profile picture for angelinejovan @angelinejovan

I have pain/ache over my site occasionally- was told it was scar tissue from the surgery. Surgery was 8 years ago. It is painful but doesn't last - i can tell it's not my heart as my pacemaker is almost under my left arm - thats where the pain/ache is. I do hope you get an answer to yr issue.

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@angelinejovan
I was reading your post and thought wow didn't this person post this sometime ago but don't see the responses like mine. Then I looked at the origional post date and saw it was back in 2019. I think when I addressed it much later like you it was 2023. The poster responded was doing okay now.

I have had a ICD/Pacemaker since 2006 and on my 3rd device. I think all should see the model of their pacemaker to see where wires are connected to the device. You can see then that it would be very easy for the device to irritate the body. I have to be careful rasing my left arm above my head and or doing a lot of exercises with my arms out if front of me. I will get slight pain in irritation around the device. I know it is the device as have had one now for almost 20 years.

What happens with devices is that over time the body will encapsulate it. This highly reduces the irritation to surrounding skin, muscles (mine is under my chest muscle). However this takes time years for it to happen. Until them many experience what EP refer to as the splinter affect of a foreign object.

Regarding your post to @dorothynoz45 was as I mentioned above me being correct when the poster responded to me years ago now that there was no longer an issue.

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kb49 | @kb49 | Jun 30 5:09am
In reply to @angelinejovan "I have pain/ache over my site occasionally- was told it was scar tissue from the surgery...." + (show)
Profile picture for angelinejovan @angelinejovan

I have pain/ache over my site occasionally- was told it was scar tissue from the surgery. Surgery was 8 years ago. It is painful but doesn't last - i can tell it's not my heart as my pacemaker is almost under my left arm - thats where the pain/ache is. I do hope you get an answer to yr issue.

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When I address this with my doctor, she said to use a lidocaine patch that worked for the pain great however the adhesive on the lidocaine patch didn’t work for me, but maybe that will work for you

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leftybarb | @leftybarb | Jul 28 11:10pm
In reply to @yoanne "hello dorothy, I definitely agree with the answers, you got.. I got my two chamber pacemaker..." + (show)
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hello dorothy,
I definitely agree with the answers, you got.. I got my two chamber pacemaker 17 months ago. I had a check after 11 months. I was told everything o.k. At that moment they did not an echocardiography, otherwise they should have noticed that I was NOT o.k. I was developing a heart failure. I knew that I had a lot of A-Fib's (nothing to worry about, I was reassured).40 percent of the recipients have A-Fibs.)
These A-Fib's induced a ventricular arrhythmia. , leading to the heart failure. Like you it was very difficult to get an appointment. The nurse only found a date in MAY!!! So I had to wait 4 months. My family doctor got an earlier date. I had to wait ONLY 2 weeks. Honestly said, I was an emergency. I learned that a pacemaker can also cause problems or complications, so do not hesitate !!!
I did not have your discomfort around the site of implantation. In this context maybe an interesting tip (not for you). I am left handed, I was sedated before the implantation . The cardiologist did not discuss or explain, what he intended to do. otherwise I would have asked him to implant the device at the right site. a couple of weeks ago I had an unpleasent experience, I washed my curtains and put them back on the rails( correct american?), of course with my left hand. Afterwards I had a long period of irregular heart beats,( one hour.).
I hope you will get an answer soon.
yoanne.

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I’m lefty too and they didn’t ask plus I also sleep on my left side smh

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Profile picture for degroatam
degroatam | @degroatam | Aug 2 11:37am
In reply to @yoanne "hello dorothy, I definitely agree with the answers, you got.. I got my two chamber pacemaker..." + (show)
Profile picture for yoanne @yoanne

hello dorothy,
I definitely agree with the answers, you got.. I got my two chamber pacemaker 17 months ago. I had a check after 11 months. I was told everything o.k. At that moment they did not an echocardiography, otherwise they should have noticed that I was NOT o.k. I was developing a heart failure. I knew that I had a lot of A-Fib's (nothing to worry about, I was reassured).40 percent of the recipients have A-Fibs.)
These A-Fib's induced a ventricular arrhythmia. , leading to the heart failure. Like you it was very difficult to get an appointment. The nurse only found a date in MAY!!! So I had to wait 4 months. My family doctor got an earlier date. I had to wait ONLY 2 weeks. Honestly said, I was an emergency. I learned that a pacemaker can also cause problems or complications, so do not hesitate !!!
I did not have your discomfort around the site of implantation. In this context maybe an interesting tip (not for you). I am left handed, I was sedated before the implantation . The cardiologist did not discuss or explain, what he intended to do. otherwise I would have asked him to implant the device at the right site. a couple of weeks ago I had an unpleasent experience, I washed my curtains and put them back on the rails( correct american?), of course with my left hand. Afterwards I had a long period of irregular heart beats,( one hour.).
I hope you will get an answer soon.
yoanne.

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I have a pacemaker implanted on my left side. I have to wear a bra to support my breast otherwise I have pain around my pacemaker. Just a suggestion you might try.

REPLY
Profile picture for degroatam
degroatam | @degroatam | Aug 2 11:41am
In reply to @angelinejovan "I have pain/ache over my site occasionally- was told it was scar tissue from the surgery...." + (show)
Profile picture for angelinejovan @angelinejovan

I have pain/ache over my site occasionally- was told it was scar tissue from the surgery. Surgery was 8 years ago. It is painful but doesn't last - i can tell it's not my heart as my pacemaker is almost under my left arm - thats where the pain/ache is. I do hope you get an answer to yr issue.

Jump to this post

Try wearing a bra all the time. I have found that really helps me. It seems that the weight of my breast is what is causing me pain around my pacemaker.

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for kb49
kb49 | @kb49 | Aug 4 7:35am
In reply to @degroatam "Try wearing a bra all the time. I have found that really helps me. It seems..." + (show)
Profile picture for degroatam @degroatam

Try wearing a bra all the time. I have found that really helps me. It seems that the weight of my breast is what is causing me pain around my pacemaker.

Jump to this post

My dr told me a lidocaine patch

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