My implant was done several days ago, pain wasn't overbearing, however a little more intense than I thought it would be. That being said, my doctor told me that my case was a little more involved due to the fact of being thin (6'-1" - 175#)., very little body fat, and well developed, conditioned musculature. He had to make the pocket a little deeper for the pacemaker to fit properly. I regularly do cardio exercises (ride my bike 10 - 15 miles a day) and weight training. It's a little funny, in the sense that usually being in shape, exercising, and not being overweight pays dividends to ones overall health and quality of life. I guess I found an instance where that is not the case! I will be book marking your video and revisiting it often during my rehab, I'm thinking that I will find and experience the same type of issues and limitations that you have personally addressed! Thank you for making the video!! 😎👍
Hi Gina. I've just found your first video after my first week after my pacemaker was implanted. Thank you so much!! All the exercises make sense and are well-known, but it's great to have them all put together by someone who has professional training and has been through it all like yourself. Can't believe that there is so little "official" help on post-pacemaker rehab.
Excellent series of videos for implanted device patients! Thanks for taking the time to do these Gina. You'd doing a real service for other device patients!
Thank you so much for these post-pacemaker videos. The docs just send you home in pain and tell you not to lift your arm for 4-6 weeks with literally no advice about how to return to normal activity let alone normal exercise routines. I am 4 weeks out from my pacemaker surgery and my body is miserable with a lot of myofascial pain. I'm slowly getting back to exercising but some muscles are so tight and the pacemaker placement limits my movements because of pain and obstruction. Anyway, it's good to have some advice and hear that it was painful and that with work it gets better.
4 days post-pacemaker and still with lot of pain-told to use Tylenol and ice! Am trying to do few exercises to prevent frozen shoulder, which i had many years ago. Just can't believe/was not expecting this much pain-so am relieved to hear I am not the only one with extreme pain.
Sounds as if you had a capsular contracture of your device. I had the same thing with my pacemaker. So it was terrible pain until you pop that capsule 😊once it’s popped capsule releases and it doesn’t hurt as bad but for me it was extremely painful until I moved in my sleep and reached over to try and shut the alarm and when I did, I pop that capsule and the pain was astronomical but then after that it got better.
I didn’t have a contracture. Just fascia restrictions. Adhesions are common. Saw post op patients with them all the time. And yes, they are loud and painful when they release.
Yes I'm just over 2 weeks post PM on same side, thank you, this is good info, I'm thinking of offering training services for this, I'll follow you as your jounery continues. TY again for posting.
Thank you so much for the video and letting us know just what you were feeling and going through. I'm 70 years old and just got a pacemaker a few days ago. I'm also having a great deal of pain and difficulty with certain movements. I just found your video on RU-vid and I'm going to start doing the exercises as much as I can. Before I had the surgery I was very active and worked very hard outside this has set me back. Again thank you very for your video and your help.
Did you have any symptoms before needing a pacemaker? Last month I had a sudden collapse / blackout, and then I was fitted with a wearable heart rate ECG monitor for 2 weeks, the results I am still waiting on. I seem to be having a few periods of low heart rate, around 50bpm, and I'm not what I would describe as physically active compared to a few years ago when I was into long distance cycling. I can't help but fear I'll need a pacemaker or something :-(
Around 25 years ago, I had an ablation to slow my heart rate. Over the years it became too slow. It was often in the 30s. I was tired and lightheaded. I opted for a pacemaker over medication because I did not care for the way it made me feel.
I'm second week in and I'm now starting to feel a pinchy pain in my shoulder after moving it a bit more.. :S So I'm afraid to do anything to test it out in fear I'll mess up the leads..
The pain in the shoulder would be directly related to the shoulder. The leads run from the pacemaker to just under the collar bone. So just a few inches. Anything above the collar bone is musculoskeletal. Stay within your docs restrictions and you’ll be fine!
Just got released from the hospital today after pacemaker implant. It’s really painful right now but I know that will get better I just need to be patient. Thank you for your video as that gives me some encouragement and something to look forward to.
Hello Gina, I thank you for everything. ICD pacemaker was installed 5 years ago. I had an exciting and very active sex life. But now it's like it's all over. The attack begins immediately. I hate living now.
Thank you for the exercise information. No one even mentioned therapy after my defrib surgery. So I began exercising on my own. And yes I felt pinching and my muscle around the device, was really tough. Whew!!! But all of that has passed. Stay strong.
Dear Gina, l wanted really to thank you for the videos you posted,my shoulder after quite 2 weeks is going each day better. THANKS! ❤️ One question if possible: when is possible to start also other exercises for legs and core as sit ups, crunches, squats, bridge marching, just respecting the rules of not moving your left arm above your shoulder , no weights, no rotations.I was doing 45 minutes training before..l know now l have to be patient for the leads Thanks again for any suggestion!!!
I am so grateful for you sharing this! I just got home two days ago. Little directions as leaving. The doctor just kept doing this weird "George swinging arm" movement from Seinfeld??? Directions didn't even include feeding yourself, writing, or any movement where your hand is above shoulder height, etc. Doing so well after doing your exercises. Vienna sausage fingers are gone on my left hand! Read before surgery that a lot of docs don't prescribe a sling at night especially if you don't ever sleep with your arms overhead. Would have saved a lot of shoulder pain. Bless you, and THANK YOU again! 🤩
Mam it’s nice to see you working so easily with pace maker implant . I am 72 years and last year I had bypass surgery ( all 3+1 arteries ) and five months ago I had pace maker surgery . But till date I am not allowed to lift my hand above my head straight, ( as per my doctors advise)and now even I can’t touch my left shoulders with my right hand ( pace maker is on right side). Now what do you suggest or what do you think about my cardiologist’s suggestion of not lifting my hand even after five months. because of which my hand has become almost stiff now!
I wish I had a good answer for you, but I obviously can’t tell you to go against your doctors orders. I do not understand why that restriction is in place unless he has concerns that your pacemaker will not stay in place in that pocket. Even thn, scar tissue forms within four weeks. It seems very extreme to me. My suggestion would be to work through all of these exercises because they will keep you below shoulder level. If you could get an explanation from him regarding his restrictions, and then maybe I can tell you more.
Excellent series of videos for implanted device patients! Thanks for taking the time to do these Gina. You'd doing a real service for other device patients!
Unless you are told, otherwise, they wouldn’t put something in your body that would make it where you can’t, at least move functionally. These exercises are simply every day movements that our body would go through to perform our daily activities.
Hi Gina....I just had my lead wire replaced 6 weeks ago. Just started your light exercises with caution. Muscles definitely contract with non use. Just wondering how you are doing after three years. Do you do plank pose hold after all this time ? I am going slowly with advice of my doctor who encourages light movement in beginning.
Thank you so much Gina for these precious tips! I just had the pacemaker implanted and I didn't know what to do because no physiotherapist had experience with pacemakers.
Thank you so much for taking the time to show us the safe exercises we can do post-op pacemaker insertion! You were very thorough and demonstrated each exercise while verbally explaining the process. I had my pacer put in less than a week ago and now I want to start getting some mobility back in my arm and shoulder, but I was afraid I would do something wrong. You helped me a lot with knowing the safe exercises I can do at home to promote arm mobility. Thank you again, for this wonderful video!! 😊
Thank you SO MUCH!!! I’m day 10 post op and my shoulder is really hurting. Any advice on walking with hand weights pumping at my sides? I find it’s still pulling at the incision and I’ve been forgoing that for the sling while I walk. Maybe it’ll just take more time.
I would not hold weights for a prolonged period of time such as walking with them. You can do light weights for strength up to the amount of your dr restrictions. But prolonged holding will likely aggravate things. Hold off until you can to do so comfortably.
Thank you so much for doing this video. I'm in week 5 of my pacemaker recovery. It has helped so much. I feel like for the first time during this procedure I have a little power over my recovery.
Thanks for the video. It's really the only video about recovery exercises. 😊 I'm 3 weeks post-op. When can i start doing this exercises? Grettings from Costa Rica
Awesome to see. Trying to find anything on exercises we can do is so frustrating. I am 6 days post op for resyncronization defibrulator pacemaker and finding it so frustrating as I just want to go go go! First few days I've been moving my arm not above shoulder level, however didn't even think to do my shoulder blades. Awesome advice and I'm definitely following to recover faster. Thank you!
Thank you....I woke up yesterday with a frozen shoulder...so much terrrible pain. I found your video after searching here and saw that you have been through it yourself. This video has been a God sent....Thank you so much
@@ginahoegh back again. I assume it is fine - and probably encouraged - to eat with your left hand during this recovery period? I.e. bend the arm at the elbow and lift it to the mouth, (keeping a straight back keeps the elbow well below the height of the shoulder)?
Thanks so much for posting this! I’ve been unhappy with my sedentary state after having my pacemaker implanted last month. I am 19. My restrictions are not lifting my elbow above my shoulder, and not lifting more than 20lbs for 3 months. I’ve been really struggling with that and definitely not following guidelines as I should be, so I need to find a safe way to release energy, workout, and also spend all the time needed to properly recover.
Thanks for the reply. So now I'm two weeks into my 79th year, and about 75% up to speed on my workouts, and adding more cardio to off-day training. I am trying to get my head around just how much slack is built into the leads. Theoretically reaching for some dog food on the top shelf should stretch the leads as much as a pull up. And putting your arm up on the back of the couch is as much of a backward extension as a push up. I realize everyone is terrified of being sued, but there should be some empirical date on what the leads can take. I'd be more into just going for it if I twenty years younger...but now I'm looking to stay out of hospital visits as much as possible. I'm hoping in 5 or so years the wireless pacemakers will be more perfected. Thanks again for all your posts.
Great information. I had a ICD done 6 weeks ago to treat my cardiac sarcoidosis. I'm 61 and in decent shape considering the job sarcoid has done on my lungs over the last 30 years. I went back to work in 2 weeks, physical job as a line cook. I rigged a tether to remind not to lift too high. Docs never said anything about working it over the 6 week recovery period . I would have if they woukd havw directed me. Of course I was moving it on the job, probably too much! May I ask what your issue is that you needed the device? I understand if you wish to keep it private. Thanks
I had a sinus tachycardia that I had avoided in 1999. My heart rate lowered to around 55 bpm and I did fine with that until I started CrossFit. The intensity of that made my heart rate drop more as my heart got stronger. Unfortunately, it was often in the upper 20s And 30s. My doctor was shocked that I didn’t feel worse with it that low. Said it was obvious my heart was in great condition. I had the choice of medication which made me feel awful or a pacemaker. Got the pacemaker and have had no issues since.
Glad to hear that you're doing well. Cardiac sarcoid left me with inflamation and arythmias that put me at risk for heart block so they recommended this as insurance. I haven't passed out yet so that's a good sign!. I'm doing medical infusions to control the sarcoid, they work for some not for others do we'll see what next pet scan says. Otherwise it's back on steroids, not the best long term solution. Thanks for the reply
Hi Gina! I have had a pacemaker implanted since 2018 I want to implement "Lucy Wyndham-Read" arm workout and resistance training programs to lose weight But I am terrified of moving my hand up or back in sequential motions Is it safe for pacemaker wires? I remember being instructed by the nurse not to raise my hand up or sequentially move the hands at the beginning of the pacemaker implantation But I don't know if I can do that after 4 years of the operation? I am worried :(
Gina, is your pacemaker situated under the muscle or just under the skin/tissue? I worry about shoulder and back exercises causing issues in the future when I’m cleared of of restrictions, either a lead break or harming device.
Mine is superficial under the skin. It’s very durable. I forget it’s there. I’ve hit it once on the pull-up bar and that’s it. Considering how active I am, that’s minimal. It’s in a fairly protected location. Keep in mind, pacemakers have stopped bullets. And think about how durable wire is. You need a special tool to cut it. This stuff is made to last! I have another video that talks about returning to regular exercise and the considerations of that. But only around 4% of people experience lead breakage. That’s really low! That includes direct trauma to the area such as a wreck. I’m not the least bit worried. And if it happens to me, I’ll say, “Shit that didn’t work out well.” I’ll move on. 😊
Hy sis I am 15 year old boy in India, recently due to do some reason I have a pacemaker installation permanently in this small age. Please can you make a video in which you are giving some tips. And some simple exercises. Please 🥺🥺🥺
I just got out of the hospital last week after having my pacemaker implanted and I feel no discomfort moving my left arm in any direction, however, holding a dumbell and having no discomfort will be the test. I am happy to see that we are basically allowed a full range of movement when the time comes - six weeks. I did read on Google though that repetitive flexing on the side that the pace maker is in is not advised?? I get sick of different answers This was helpful, thank you.
You should follow your doctor's advice on the matter. Restrictions depends on your underlying conditions and the placement and type of pacemaker you have. You cannot google a reliable answer for yourself unless you are able to understand medical literature and guidelines.
@@mariegro09 Thank you. I did wait for the six weeks, and on the very day that the six weeks was over, I went to go shoot basketball and worked out with no problems. Things ended up being fine. Had Triple Bypass surgery eight months later - arteries were still clogged, but absolutely no problems with that surgery either, no soreness, no pain, no awkwardness, didn't feel a thing. Got DANG LUCKY.
I’m 39 and will be getting mine this month. I also lift heavy and am very active. How does it feel when doing benchpress or sleeping on that side? Any odd feeling or discomfort when doing activities after 6-12 months?
@@Scottpopatia it takes a while to get used to it but eventually you'll build the resistance to that odd Feeling both Physically and Mentally. But you can get it all back just takes a bit longer due to having to pace yourself a little more.
Tom I would confirm with your doctor, but if you don’t have restrictions, then yes. Once the initial discomfort with return to activity you should be good!
@@JacobCricket I have this video and 2 others that should help the soreness. Just like any surgery, the faster you start to move, the better. As long as you are cleared for movement, get started and it will help.
Try to be yourself in everyday activity's you would normally do we have some limitations but we can over come alot of by staying Active! Exercise is a Great Tool for us and you look younger than I am so you'll do fine
Thank you. I'm 79 (in 9 days), and one week out from my device being implanted. My doctor really prefers that I give up pushups and pull ups, period. He cautioned me that long term stress on the two leads going into my heart could eventually weaken anchors into the muscle and cause them to come loose from the full extension of the arms in the pull up and the full pressing back on the chest in the pushup. It hurts to give those up and so I'm looking for alternate upper body exercises that will fill the void. I hope you will continue your journey with us, as it is giving me good guidance. My condition that led to the pacemaker is Brady Cardia...slow heartbeat...and Right Bundle Branch Block. In my case my pulse rate got down into the 30s and that put me in the ER. Otherwise, the muscle is in good shape...it was just the electrics that started to rapidly decline. Thank you for the video.
You are welcome! Some docs are more cautious than others. Mine knew I was a CrossFit athlete and would be doing pullups and pushups so he said go for it. Good luck to you and if you ever have any specific questions about anything, just give me a shout.
@@eddyvideostar I am the CrossFit athlete. And yes, my dr knew I was before doing the procedure. I would not have had it done if I had to stop CrossFit. It’s important to me and the dr had no concerns.
John Ireland: How are you now? ----------------- Work with your doctor to suggest the *necessary* exercise. Don't overdo: Don't be bodily vain and wreck yourself. The pacemaker is machinery that you cannot stretch nor massage -- which could backfire.
@@eddyvideostar Hello. I have been studying my range of motion when doing a pull up. After a year of not doing them, I can't even do one. But I am beginning by just hanging from the bar in the upper most position as long as I can, and then slowing lowering myself down. Then repeating it from the chin up upper position. Then doing the pull up position again. This whole experience has left me with very little confidence in doctors in general and cardiologists in particular. They just don't make sense. I'm still not doing push ups because it is a very different range of motion from a pull up. But I'm doing modfied, hands close together, push ups, and my usual core work, legs, back, etc. Also doing HIIT on our gym treadmill. Not great, but okay for my age. Gets me running hard in 90 second intervals, followed by 3.5 minutes of quick walking. Six reps plus 5 minute warm up and cool down, for a total of 45 minutes. To be honest, it becomes hard to trust a doctor's advice when I'm in better shape than they are. And I'm 80 years old now.
