Sore ribs at 12 weeks

[Michelle D]

Today I'm pretty achy. My sternum and my ribs under my left breast are sore. It's not pain like when I had an effusion. It feels like maybe I slept funny or something. I've tried an Epsom soak, heating pads, cold packs and when that failed I broke down and took a left over vicodin. At 12 weeks should I still be getting sore like this? I saw my cardiologist two days ago and my lungs sounded good. I just would like to know how long I'll experience soreness.

 

[pat45750]

Hi At 10 weeks post op I find my chest sore in different spots everytime to do something different including sleeping in different positions, sweeping, walking the dog, etc I think it is something that will take more time to heal. It takes 6 months for a hip replacement to heal so you can do normal things. It takes a full year for everything to heal. I can't believe it is any different for open heart surgery. This is much more invasive than a hip replacement. I am doing PT now and am getting new aches and pains in my chest as they continue to push me. I think it is just normal. One day I don't think about my chest and the next evening I am taking tramadol so I can sleep. Pat

 

[Michelle D]

I think what surprised me about this one is that I haven't felt pain in my ribs there before. It almost feels like a severely bruised rib. I'll try not to dwell.

 

[Jkm7]

I'm 2 1/2 years out from my second OHS and from time to time have soreness in my chest. Many of us experience odd aches and discomfort probably for ever. For me, it is mostly weather related but not always. Most of the time, I am pain/ache free but not always.

 

[Greg a]

I'm 2 1/2 years out from my second OHS and from time to time have soreness in my chest. Many of us experience odd aches and discomfort probably for ever. For me, it is mostly weather related but not always. Most of the time, I am pain/ache free but not always.

AGREED ...the high and low pressure fronts can drive me nuts ..........shhhhhhhhh my wife doesn't know that I'm not

 

[Michelle D]

We did go from cool and sunny to overcast and humid recently.

 

[Lily]

There is a rib inflammation issue called costochondritis. It developed for me several weeks after surgery. There are treatments for it. Also, watch your posture, especially at your computer.

 

[Michelle D]

It hurts directly under my breast straight down from my nipple and into my side. It's starting to scare me. It hurts to even take a little breath. It almost feels like the pain I had with plueral effusion but slightly different. I think I'll go to the ER tomorrow morning if it doesn't go away. It could be from wearing a bra that had too small of a band yesterday and it bruised my ribs. I don't know but man this hurts!!

 

[AgilityDog]

Well, if it hurts that badly, then do get it checked out! You've had a rough road and you are right to be careful.

I've had a chronic rib ache on my right near the spine. It flairs when I sleep on my side for a while, then turn over. But I think it's pretty normal, even though it really hurts - it goes away quickly enough when I move, and things "settle."

I get a similar one near the bottom of my sternum during sleep (on my side again), or if I slump while sitting, and the whole sternum still hurts a little if I try to use my arms to get up from a chair or the bed. I'm at 10 weeks today, and the top of my incision is still bruised and swollen, too. Plus my left shoulder still screams at me. It's all related to surgical "abuse."

So SOME aches and pains are normal at this stage. But yours may be a sign of something more significant. I can't imagine a bra band bruising you that badly. Mine irritates my scar sometimes, but nothing worse.

Why don't you go to the doctor today if you can?

 

[skrob49]

It is 10 weeks post op - my wife only said slight pain at breastbone during deep breathing only.

 

[Michelle D]

I left a message with Dr. gillinov's nurse practioner, my cardiologist and my gp. I wasn't worried at first but I started thinking too much and googling too much. It does sound like costochondritis but I know that they can be caused by a Bayesian infection after thoracic surgery so I want to make sure that is not the case for me. I hope it's just a Muscle strain from the damn rowing machine I used last Friday. Yesterday I felt like my muscles were so tight I was on the verge of pulling something, maybe I overcompensated for the back tightness and pulled a rib muscle.

 

[Bina]

my ribs were achey for a long time and I am still very cautious to do anything that will cause a flare up.
Straight posture is simple to do and very beneficial during healing, no slouching on sofas or twisting to reach for things.
HOpe it clears up for you.

 

[Michelle D]

I'm going for a blood culture tomorrow. It now is painful in my clavicle as well?!?! Pfff I can't catch a break huh? It's starting to feel like plueral inflammation without the fluid. I can't get appointments with my cardiologist or general practioner for a few weeks. I'm wondering if I should go to the pulmonolgist. I'll wait until Monday.

 

[pat45750]

Rowing machine! Everytime I do something different I really get pains. After the dog pulled on me, I could hardly breath for 2 days. Felt like my ribs were injured. I think all kinds of things are healing and get very upset when you start doing normal things. I often feel like there is a small metal plate attached to my chest - just a funny feeling. It comes and goes. I expect it will get better and better. I can do a lot more now without taking any pain meds. It seems when the chest is bad there is a stabbing from the front and back so you just can't take a regular breath. Don't like that, but life is getting better and better. Pat

 

[halleyg]

I'm 2 1/2 years out from my second OHS and from time to time have soreness in my chest. Many of us experience odd aches and discomfort probably for ever. For me, it is mostly weather related but not always. Most of the time, I am pain/ache free but not always.

Same here. I experience soreness in my sternum quite a bit and it's been over three years for me. My dr. told me 6 months ago that if I still get it at this point, it's here to stay.

 

[Michelle D]

Yes Pat, I need to be more careful. I can breathe but it hurts. I got a call back from the Cleveland clinic and she told me to get an x-ray to see if I'm having an effusion again, excuse my language but I hope the hell not. The pain is now in my clavicle and less in my ribs after switching between a heating pad and ice pack at 20 minute intervals. This is horrible pain, under my clavicle it hurts like a pinched nerve or something. And I don't know which med it was but I'm having little spurts of tachycardia. Maybe a-flutter. Grrr

 

[Michelle D]

Back in the ER. Yay, yippee!!

The pain became intolerable. The worst I've ever felt.

 

[Bina]

bummer.....hope they get it diagnosed and treated quickly.

 

[AgilityDog]

I'm glad you went to the ER!

Keep us informed when you can. I hope you are feeling better this morning.

 

[Michelle D]

They gave me an injection of a narcotic pain reliever about 7 hours ago and it has worn off but it definetly allowed me relax my muscles so I feel better today, not 100%. They said it was plueracy but this morning my cardiologist called and thinks it's just chest wall inflammation. I got home about 3 am. I was told just to take advil and if necessary viocodin.