Sternum healing

[catwoman]

How long does it take for the sternum to heal -- that is, lie flat again?
My surgery was 4.5MO ago and the sternum lies flatter than immediately after surgery but it's not normal yet. My surgeon told me in the hospital it'd take 3-4 months. I'm sure he didn't have first-hand knowledge.
I'm self-conscious about the "hump" in the upper chest. Looks like a road crew has done utility work and didn't smooth out the asphalt afterward!

 

[ccrawford]

Hi Marsha - I'm not sure what the bump might be. Maybe some scar tissue. I'm glad you're doing ok post surgery. You might want to talk to your doc next time you see him/her and see what they say. Besides the bump, are you feeling pretty good ? Chris

 

[Kevin M]

I had the same problem after my first operation. You could feel the wires and where the sternum met quite easily when you place your hand on it.

It never did go away. This second time around, I had no problems.

Kev

 

[tommy]

Marsha,

I had a similar occasional pain from the wires. I liked to touch the area to be sure that it was a surface pain and not something more serious. That only made it worse, but set my mind at ease.

I also had a pain away from the zipper that was intermittant, but lasted for over a year. I wonder if a muscle got nicked - who knows?

I can still feel my wires in 2 places on the sternum, but no discomfort.

 

[catwoman]

The area I'm referring to is ABOVE the incision -- up to where the collar bones join. Doesn't seem to have any wiring there. It seems to be "buckled," for the lack of a better descriptive word, or not flat.

I have noticed some odd feelings along the wired-up sternum when weather changes. A friend in Michigan who's had CABG said her sternum is very sensitive in the winter.

 

[Les]

Hi,
Yeah, mine is sort of buckled right above the incision as well. There's no pain, but it is sensitive if I press on it...even after all these years. However, I don't think that was the reason I didn't pass the Chippendale audition!

 

[tommy]

Marsh,

The buckling issue sounds like one for the surgeon. I'm not sure what can be done about it, but it would be nice to know what is going on and what to expect.

Please keep us posted.

 

[Georgia]

Just a little bump in the road

Just a little bump in the road

I had the same bump - above the incision to the collarbones. Asked the doc - he said don't worry about it it'll go away. And it did, and I don't remember when - all of a sudden it was gone - sometime this summer (probably at 5 - 6 mos??).

But I gotta tell ya - this stormy variable weather is wearing me out. That sternotomy hurts - both aching and minor shooting pains.

Oh well; I'm sturdy peasant stock and can live with it.