chest discomfort

[fisher6476]

There has been some talk about incisional discomfort lately so let me throw this out and see what you think. As you may know I am 6 weeks post op. Got Xray and EKG amd met with surgeon on Thursday. Had follow up cardio visit the prior Thursday. I toldboth doctors I was still pretty sore in my chest and that I was still sleeping in a chair. Both said that was not unusual and that sometimes it take about 12 weeks to really lose a lot of the discomfort. Surgeon had me cough while he was holding my chest and was satisfied. What's bothering me and was when I went to see the surgeon was that the discomfort I am feeling is different than the pain I had the first 5 weeks. It feels like the pain is muscular to me but as i move about it seems to move from one side of my chest and back to the other! I think that's weird! This discomfort has been with me for a week now. Anybody have anything similar after their surgery.?

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Nuscular pain in the chest, back, and shoulders is quite common following surgery.

REHAB does wonders. I especially enjoyed the relief I got from using the 'arm cycle' machines. MASSAGE also does wonders, often better and faster than pain pills.

Your surgeon should have given you a set of stretching exercises to perform following surgery. If not, ask, or go visit a Rehab class and talk with the nurses about how to relieve muscle pains.

Maybe we should add STRETCH to the VR.com mantra

'AL'

 

[NascarfanMary]

I too have had alot of pain. My shoulders hurt all the time and sleeping in bed is the worst. I have been using a heating pad and pain medications. Sometimes taking a hot shower relieves it for a while. I have had some popping in the sternum and it feels like it shifts at times. I was told it is part of the healing process. It feels like a muscle stretching. I start Rehab on Thursday the 22nd and I am hoping that it will help. It sure is a weird feeling.

My Dr. says that the body is healing and will take many months to heal completely. If you are like me, I cant wait!! I am in my 6th week of recovery fom replacemant surgery and in the 4th week of recovery from pacemaker surgery. DR. had to open up sac twice to get pacemaker placed and repositioned.

I think if you still have concerns talk to your Dr. again, he may be able to give you something to ease the pain. I know I have had to asked a few times. Take care !!

 

[fisher6476]

Mary,
Thanks for your insight. I hope you get to feeling better soon. I know what you mean about the bed! I wish I could just get 6 hours of sleep in my bed. I start rehab with a stress test on Tues so I guess I'll bring up this pain again with Cardios. Overall I am feeling really good so this "extra pain" is a pain in my.....chest. The other issue I have is that when I breathe in, I feel each heart beat significantly. in other words it's not like it was before surgery where if i were winded I knew my heart was beating harder, but now even at rest whe I take in that Breath I feel my heart go "beat beat beat beat" almost like someone was poking a finger in my chest every time my heart beats.Again Drs. have all said there is nothing wrong and that many post surgery valvers feel similarly. I guess I just don't like it and hav not gotten use to it yet.
Steve

 

[Marcia]

sternum

sternum

I am 10 mos post op with a mitral valve replacement and I had one sore spot that I brought to the Drs. attention. Had a fracture in the sternum and the wire was rubbing on a muscle. He took out 3 wires and now it feels better. Still feels like it is shifting sometimes. If for some reason one of the grandkids are on my lap and hit my chest, it is still really painful. I swear I can feel the rest of the wires. It does get better. I slept with alot of pillows for a couple of months. I didn't find our recliner at home very comfortable so I always went to bed at night. If I slept more then a few hours. I would wake up pretty stiff and sore. You will enjoy Cardio Rehab. I was reluctant at first, but I made some very good friends there. It really helped getting back into shape. Good luck,

 

[Heather Fisher]

I'm approaching 6 months and have recovered with very few problems. Just recently I have had more chest soreness. I don't know, could there be more nerves growing back now? I think the pain is muscular.....
Heather

 

[cinda575]

I sure have a lot of pain, things moving and cracking but it seems more under my chest scar.I sleep in the recliner and end up so sore the next few days but i cant sleep in the bed either. I h8 to sleep at this point( been home 2 weeks 2 days). I cant walk too far because of the beat, beat, beat but thay are looking into that. Even sitting and doing nothing it beats fast. I wonder why noone said nothing to me about the cardioRehab...I need it!!!

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Cinda wrote:

"I cant walk too far because of the beat, beat, beat but thay are looking into that. Even sitting and doing nothing it beats fast. I wonder why noone said nothing to me about the cardioRehab...I need it!!!"

Cinda -

Is your cardiologist aware of your rapid heart rate?
How fast is it beating at rest?

A 'somewhat' elevated Heart Rate (80 to 100 at rest) after surgery is VERY common. If it is over 150 beats / minute, you should probably go to the ER or Cardiologist's office immediately (or at least call and get their recommendation). You do NOT want to be sitting around for 3 days with a heart rate over 150.

'AL'