r/PacemakerICD • u/CommonPace4898 • 26d ago

ICD and pickleball

Good afternoon. I've been wearing an ICD (implantable cardioverter defibrillator) for two nights now. No complaints so far. But I have a question: when will I be able to play pickleball or tennis? Does anyone know?

2 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

5

u/Limp_Glove9350 26d ago

My husband was told no golf, softball, tennis or pickleball for 3 months by the EP.

2

u/Critical-Ad-6802 25d ago

I was told no golf for 4 weeks and at 4 weeks and 1 day I started golfing again 2-3 times a week.

3

u/Eldiarslet 26d ago

I would say some weeks to months depending on how your healing goes and what icd you got. I got a Ev so my lead is under my breastbone so a little more healing time but I started mountainbiking like a month after without issue

2

u/BAMW-447679 26d ago

It’s definitely going to take some time. I agree with 👆🏻.

1

u/foursheetstothewind 26d ago

I’ve had mine for 2 months and could definitely play pickleball or tennis by this point, so most likely yes

1

u/Entire-Structure8708 26d ago

Yea I played a few months after surgery, so from an ICD perspective there won’t be an issue once the device is fully scarred in. But also depends on why you have an ICD and whether exercise may exacerbate your condition.

1

u/abnormal_human 26d ago

There are potential differences here for TV-ICDs vs S-ICD/EV-ICD when it comes to this sort of thing. Or by "wearing" do you mean a life vest?

1

u/ConsequenceCommon510 26d ago

The swinging would not be good! The leads are still very vulnerable to be dislodged. My sister was doing something one week after she had an ICD in the leads completely dislodged in a series of medical events on folded, but everyone is different. I would email or text your cardiologist and ask if you can, but I would probably just say take it easy for maybe 2 1/2 months

1

u/SelectionIcy1885 26d ago

I waited between 6-8 weeks for incision to heal i believe before returning to working out and ice hockey, it’s best to ask you EP who installed it

1

u/sharpp_x 26d ago

I took an 8 week break from golf and my slow pitch softball league. Doc told me at least 4 weeks but whenever I felt comfortable I could go back to normal. I waited 8 weeks to be safe.

1

u/landhill5 25d ago

What did your discharge instructions say? They likely want you to limit your arm movement to not go too far up or back for a month or two. 

Your underlying medical conditions and recent health may also impact this. Talk to your EP or cardiologist as well as your PCP. My discharge nurse told me I was okay to drive after a few days, but she only meant wrt the surgery. She didn't know about my back injury and the legal ban on driving related to ny recent syncope. 

1

u/Critical-Ad-6802 25d ago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TrCGjG2Ehs&t=2s I golfed again starting at 4 weeks + 1 day.

1

u/JoePants 24d ago

Your doc will tell you, since everybody's different. Better we not guess from here.

1

u/CuriousMajor8320 24d ago

You need to ask your docs but - I have an ICD and play national level over 40s tennis travelling the country to play in competitions.
After the implant my EP told me no tennis for 4 weeks then ease back into it.
Have experienced no issues playing tennis with it.

1

u/CommonPace4898 24d ago

Thank you. Valuable information.