When does pain and muscle stiffness subside after pacemaker surgery

My pacemaker surgery was done with a healthy dose of Versaid and fentanyl. honestly, the worst thing was leading up to the surgery. I was a nervous wreck and maybe a slight pinch when the lidocaine was administered. But nothing more than a bee sting.

Just joined
Thank you for all the comments and great advice. I just had my PM 4 days and it is nice to read all these positive ideas and recommendations.
Thank you!

@earther, I wanted to check in and see how you are doing? You mentioned trying to weigh the difficult decision of undergoing a procedure for a pacemaker vs. quality of life and the risks any procedure carries as we get older. This is often a difficult choice individuals face for other ailments like cancer treatment or significant bone breaks at an older age.

Now that a bit of time has passed since your post, I was hoping you could share with the community how you are currently doing and if there has been any change in your decision or symptoms?

Welcome @tedlam. It is great to hear the community has already been helpful with positive ideas and recommendations. Which ones have you found most helpful in the early days of recovery from your pacemaker surgery?

How are you currently doing being so soon out of your procedure?

@JustinMcClanahan - It's kind of you to follow up, Justin.

I have AFib and bradycardia, so that presents a problem other than my concerns about quality of life. I have other serious heart conditions, too (I feel like a med school lab project), plus an implanted heart monitor. When I saw the Heart Rhythm MD for checkup, he said the monitor readings showed that I don't need or qualify (not sure which or why) for the pacemaker now but, as he has said since 2016, eventually will -- that was pre-AFib.

My cardiologist, who had never mentioned Watchman at all, told me that's what she thinks I should have when I asked her about it. Odd, when she hadn't mentioned it before. But both my primary care dr. and I disagree with that.

I had a very bad year -- a whole year -- after having general anesthesia twice in late 2024. I felt like a zombie, couldn't read even a whole chapter in a book (that and learning are my favorite things to do). I can read a bit now, thankfully, but I am not the person I was before. I'm "dumbed down," just not the same, and I hate it. So I'd probably rather be dead than risk that or worse happening.

I'm in a rural area with a hospital that has been close to losing Medicare accreditation and losing doctors, particularly specialists, for more than a year. I can't drive to see doctors elsewhere, and the cardiologist I had is now elsewhere. So I'm seeing the primary doc soon to discuss all of this -- and to try to get someone to explain more about Eliquis internal bleeding warning signs, because I had some recently, had 3 appts and 2 tests, spent about 10 days very concerned, then was told the Abnormal results of coagulation tests were normal. So why the tests? Why am I even on Eliquis and having great difficulty paying plus serious problems with ExpressScripts mismanagement of the Medicare Rx Payment Plan (MP3?).

TMI, I'm sure. Too tired to edit.

I envy any and all who are near enough to go to any Mayo Clinic.

@tedlam I'm just a a little over a year of having my PM. I'm wishing you you a great recovery. Things will definitely be better in about a month. 🙏🏼

It took me just. Over a year to deal with most of the physical issues after pm surgery but I’m better 14 months out. I’m still battling shortness of breath but I’ve about decided that’s due to medication but I have ct tomorrow to see if there’s anything else related to placement of pacemaker I’ll keep you updated

@tedlam
Welcome. Did you have just the PM or ICD also?

I am on my 3rd device and have had one since 2006. Probably dealt with everything so if can help let me know.

It does take some time to heal both physically and mentally after PM surgery. Got to remember they are leaving a foreign device in you. Your body both physically and mentally will treat like it is a splinter.

It takes about a year for body to encapsulate the device. After that the feeling of having it and the bodies response to a foreign object decreases immensely. Just be careful with extreme jerking or movements of the arm on the side of your device. Got to let device settle in and wires get seated into heart.
Good luck.