Soreness in the sternum

[mike anthony]

Hi Ginger,

I finally got in to see the Doctor yesterday concerning the soreness around my sternum. It was due to the cartilage around the rib and sternum being inflamed. This pretty much answered my question to why the pain would come and go. It was a relief to me only because I thought I did something to my sternum and I've heard to many war stories about repairing the sternum. Take care.

 

[hensylee]

So, Mike - what's next that you are to do? Are they giving you something to fix it?

 

[Nancy]

Hi Mike-

Do a search on this site for Costochondritis, there are several people who have had this condition and you can see how it got resolved for them.

 

[hensylee]

Costochondritis:

Costochondritis is the result of inflammation of the cartilage of the chest wall, usually involving that which surrounds the breast bone (sternum). It causes local pain and tenderness of the chest around the sternum.

Nancy posted this some while back and I looked it up just to revive it.

 

[Granbonny]

To all Post-valvers

To all Post-valvers

Who feel like they are going to do something macho... If you are going to dance, you have to pay the fiddler.. DON'T use your arms and shoulders for several weeks..like golf, push vaccum, ect..even at one year..to reach out and windex my windows..ouch: But I know, I'm not having a heart attack. Just sit and relax a few minutes and it goes away.Bonnie

 

[mike anthony]

Thank you Hensylee and Nancy, I looked up contochondritis from previous post and will keep in mind if I don't see improvement over the next week.

I was actually feeling better before going to the doctor, but I wanted to make sure. Hensylee, I have been advise to take advil once a day.

I also went in and had my ECHO done today, but won't know the results until next Tuesday. The tech said it looks great, but followed that up with, I'm not the doctor. Most of the time you can't get them(tech's) to say anything. I wished they would, because I sometimes think we would get a straight answer.

I'm really feeling pretty good and pretty much back to my normal routine. I continue to get stronger everyday and have increase my workouts to 5 times a week. I also played a full round of golf last Friday and shot an 80, I usually shoot in the mid 70's, so not bad for a two month layoff. With this being said, I'm very aware of what I can do and not, so if I start to feel tired I back off. Thanks and take care

 

[pillarpaul]

Golf

Golf

Mike,

Was that 80 for 9 or 18? If it's for 9, you're at my skill level. Bet it wasn't though

Paul

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Hey Mike,

Be careful taking Advil for more than a few days. A friend developed stomach problems after a couple of weeks on Advil. A GI doc said to take one of the more powerful acid reducing medicines such as Prilosec, Nexium, Aciphex, etc when taking Advil or similar ibuprofin based pain medications.

'AL'

 

[mike anthony]

Paul, here the positives about shooting 80 for nine, you get to be on the course longer and I would have to give you a lot of strokes( about 3 a hole). So, in a friendly betting game, I wouldn't stand a chance.

Al, thank you. The doc told me not to take for more than a week.

 

[John Cochran]

Mike,
Hope your pain is lessening. I don't know if you take a daily aspirin, but if so you should know that Advil (ibuprophen) has been shown to interfere with the anti-clotting properties of aspirin.

Without complications, and by not pushing it, the sternum takes 100 days to heal. I had a variety of aches and pains, even though I had a mini-sternotomy. Part of it was that, like you, I was feeling good and doing a few things I should have waited for (was riding my motorcycle at 8 weeks).

You made a joke about pushups, but after you are totally completely healed, I discovered that getting back into doing pushups totally eliminated my sternum/chest aches and pains. I think it has to do with rehabilitating the ligaments and tendons in the chest. Any how, if you do that, wait until 6 months, and start very slow, building up to 30 or more daily (3 sets of 10 each). I now do 50 every morning, and my chest is totally pain-free and I've regained my upper body strength.

Let your self heal, and soon you'll be doing great! Wish I could golf like you...sounds like Paul and I are at about the same level. I started golf just two years ago, and am looking forward to a full swing this summer!

--John