shoulder stinging post-op

[KML]

Could someone please tell me if they think that a moderately severe (7) shoulder stinging could be something more than normal recovery pain? My husband, Rob had AVR and an anuerysm repair with replacement of ascending aorta 21 days ago and has been having shoulder sorenesss that I asked about earlier but he just told me that it has switched very rapidly to his left shoulder nad is now describing it as "stinging." Should I be worred and call his surgeon???
HELP! Did not want to overreact....
thanks
KML

 

[KristyW]

Probably wait it out.

Probably wait it out.

K....

One thing you may want to tell your husband....when the Drs. opened his chest, he was placed on the operating table with his shoulder blades almost (if not) touching each other underneath him. This causes some pretty severe shoulder, neck, and back pain for a while. I don't think that 3 weeks is too long, but you and your husband know how his body reacts to things much better than we do.

I know that I had the worst headache for 2 full weeks after I got home. It was just from the awkward position they had me in on the operating table.

Keep an eye on things, measure the pain periodically and decide from there is the only advice I can really give at this time.

 

[richie rich]

hi

sometimes it takes time for the shoudlers to heal. i am 3 1/2/ months post op and i still have shoulder soreness. i was told that it will probably take a year before it fully goes away.

good luck
rich

 

[mike anthony]

The one place I still have soreness is in the shoulder area. I'm 4.5 weeks post op. I was told it could take 3-4 months.

 

[Creed3]

I had the same surgery about 6 1/2 months ago. You really do have a lot of shoulder pain after this type of surgery. They put your body in some really strange positions while doing surgery. I swore that my shoulder pain etc. felt just like, if not worse, than the pain I had when my dissection occured. Your husband knows his body better than anyone else and if he feels this is a drastic change from what he has been feeling, he should definately check with his doctor. Sometimes even now if I sleep the wrong way I still get pain in my shoulders. I had my 6 month post op appt today with my cardio and he told me that I may always feel pain, twinges and pinches around my sternum, shoulders etc..,for the rest of my life. This is a major surgery your husband has been through. He will be feeling pain and sensations that he has never felt before. I remember about a week or so after my surgery, I was having an awful time sleeping. I was having this stinging type feeling in my chest. Scared me to death. I thought something was wrong, but it ended up that it was all part of the healing of the surgery. It will take some time, but your husband will slowly begin to feel better. He should try looking at his recovery on a week to week basis, not day to day. You both will see much more improvement that way. Keep us all posted.

Take Care!
Gail

 

[KML]

Thank you guys so much--I massaged his shoulder with dry heat until he fell asleep (thanks to ativan as well) and he is sleeping like a baby (well a snoring baby) as we speak. One thing I always thought was funny--I was SO devastated when I saw him in CICU for the first time--as I am sure all of your families were.....the nurse was so nice that she let me stay for like 2 hours late that night and I did not feel any comfort until he started snoring so hard that he was moving the intubation tube up and down like you would not believe! I know the vent was breathing for him but it still made me feel like there was a light at the end of tunnel. For those of you out there who are awaiting surgery--try to find the lemonade in all of the lemons that have been dealt to you and your families during your stay. There were times when I did not think we would make it out due to all of his setbacks and going back into the hospital--but I think we are on our way back up.......this exact time three weeks ago I was collaspsing from exhaustion in a hotel room while my husband was still in CICU. I have to keep telling both of us--it will get better.
Thanks for listening and ALL of your helpful advice
KML

 

[ALCapshaw2]

I had a LOT of muscle pain in the long back muscles passing by my shoulder blades. Tylenol helped but took a while to act. The BEST relief was Massage Therapy, either by hand or a vibrator, along the muscle. These pains would come and go, sometimes several times a day for several weeks post op.

'AL'

 

[Tom Harrison]

In the hospital the fingers on my left hand felt numb. The hand was to weak to open a bottle etc. The cardiac nurse said it was normal and due to muscle/nerve damage. I am now a year post op and it has resolved itself to some degree, but I still have some loss of sensation in that hand. I have shoulder pain on both sides,( particularily painfull if I reach into the back seat of a car). I have tried massage therapy, and an exercise program designed for those with rotator cuff injuries. Looks like a long term problem