Pain from ICD (muscle chest area)

[jvaldez]

Had my ICD surgery three years ago.
Over the past few years, I've experience muscle pain on and off over this time (sometimes more severe than others where difficulty moving arm).
Doctors don't seem to know what to do about this.
Anyone else have experience with this?
It's getting very frustrating.

[Kevin Casper]

Re: Pain from ICD (muscle chest area)

Problems after 3 months are uncommon from what I read. Of course I was an uncommon case as I allowed my shoulder to "freeze up" as I refer to it while I was recovering. I held the arm too still for that duration where we aren't suppose to lift the arm above our heads. It took 6 months of light weights for me to regain full use of my left arm after that mistake. There were weeks in there where I couldn't move my left arm very far under its own power and laying down produced a lot of pain.

If the muscle pains are a case of you accidentally messing up the shoulder muscles during recovery like I did then there is a good chance that a simple set of light exercises designed to strengthen that area could solve your problems in a few months. You should seek attention of a physical therapist for evaluation and to come up with a exercise plan if you want to try that direction.

[mbcube]

Re: Pain from ICD (muscle chest area)

This may or may not be related to you implantation. Some questions I have (and I sure most doctors would) - It is constant? are there certain actions that cause it? does it go away with rest? is it one side more than the other? Was your device installed sub-pec?
I would think that if after the first year things were OK and it progressed to getting worse, then it might be something else like Kevin suggested.

[YoungAtHeart]

Re: Pain from ICD (muscle chest area)

Hi Jvaldez, maybe your doctors should do a chest x-ray to make sure your ICD is in the right place. Do you sleep on your front at all?

I sleep on my side with my arm up, sometimes I lean on my ICD which causes a pulsing ache the following day. It does feel like a muscle pain.

[BelleHeart]

Re: Pain from ICD (muscle chest area)

My ICD placement was five years ago, July 22, 2008. The device is in a pocket under the skin and the wires and battery can be felt. I have suffered with pain under my arm, aggravation at the site occasional swelling and itching and a slightly swollen breast since the placement. I have sensitive skin so I just assume this is the problem. I am moderate to severely symptomatic from my HCM so to me this is just something else I'll have to deal with. I definitly sympathize...hope yours eases up and you become comfortable atleast

[Debbie]

Re: Pain from ICD (muscle chest area)

I have had my current AICD for 8 years, and sometimes, for no reason at all, my chest will ache like a toothache where it sits. It is a passing ache, not staying very long, but fairly intense sometimes. I have always just figured that it affects those muscles and nerves right there, and sometimes they protest.

However, I have had neck problems ever since I got an AICD (12 years ago). I never really thought about asking the Dr. about it, though. Once again, figuring that it has to do with the thing messing up my nerves in that area.

[mark720]

Re: Pain from ICD (muscle chest area)

oh yes there will always be a little pain to remind you something new is inside your body

[mbcube]

Re: Pain from ICD (muscle chest area)

Mine's 5 years old and no pain, but on occasion, it'll itch like crazy. For me its a small price to pay for protection.
I'd continue to ask each and every doctor you see to see if "thinking outside the box' might help.

[Deedee]

Re: Pain from ICD (muscle chest area)

Some people recover so FAST but it took me a full 3 years to be able to sleep on my left side comfortably again. Even so - sometimes it's a bit much and will be a little sore the next day. I too had issues after the post-surgery restriction and used light weights (learned how at cardiac rehab) to fix the problem. Doing range of motion exercises especially with some light weights really made a huge difference for me. That and time. I sleep on my right side a lot more than I used to as well. Prior to my ICD surgery I was a confirmed left-side sleeper. Now it's more balanced. I will say tho - a heavy workout where I over-use the muscles will cause a LOT of soreness in the area, so light and easy works better, or at the very least, properly working up to heavier stuff and not jumping in over one's head.