Sternum pain

[kman]

Im now four months out and me and and my new cow valve are getting along just fine, my only concern is I still have some sternum discomfort. I was told by my cardiologist and my surgeon at three months to just go for it as far as exercise is concerned,no restrictions what ever, Kaiser does not offer cardiac rehab to valve jobs. I resumed jogging and hiking slowly and have noticed that after running and heavy breathing I feel sore in the sternum area, is this normal at four months? Other than that Im doing great,although I feel like I have a ways to go yet I dont get so short of breath during exercise and I seem to have more energy in general and recover faster from exercise.

 

[Susan BAV]

Is it up high, or down lower?

I had inflammation of the cartilage where my ribs attach to my lower sternum; I believe it's called costochondritis. It caused me a lot of pain--more so a few months post-op than early post-op--and it still occasionally gives me a zing of pain. I didn't take meds for it, because I like to avoid meds; but perhaps if I had taken some meds for it, it wouldn't have lasted for so long.

There is one "window" spot, where the echo tech usually jabs the echo wand, that always sets my pain off; but during my last annual, the tech I had that day never jabbed and dug around in that area, and I think that may be one reason why it's not bothering me nearly as much as it did. I think it's had a longer chance to heal.

I don't know if this could also be your problem. Just offering my experience in the hope that it may be helpful. Take care.

 

[Bina]

Kman, 4 months postop I was not feeling totally "solid" by any means. Some people do, but I definitely did not. My bones and muscles (or lack of ) needed more time.

 

[bbb]

Glad you're asking this question, as I am 3 months post-op and just now able to sleep on my stomach and sides, but still experiencing some sternum discomfort, which I thought might be gone by now. I also keep wondering if I am a bit more tired than normal, and if exercise makes me more tired than it used to.

From what I have heard, sometimes it is a full year until all the little things go away???

Betsy

 

[Jkm7]

I'm four Years post op and still have days when my sternum is sore. When we have a change of weather (snow/rain), it aches. Others times it feels like little stings in certain spots. I have not been able to sleep on my stomach since my surgery.

And here I am going for second OHS Thursday. I don't even want to imagine what it is going to feel like after two!!!

Then again, I mentioned it to my surgeon and maybe he has some magic he can try this time and surprise me with it feeling better this time around. Wouldn't that be a gift!!!

 

[harleygirl528]

I am six weeks post op tomorrow and honestly I feel more sternum pain now then I did week 1. Well, maybe it was because my back and neck hurt so bad I didn't pay attention to the sternum! At any rate, it was reassuring to hear from so many others who still experience discomfort. for some reason, I was under the impression that many people did not experience much sternum discomfort at all, much less at six weeks post-op. Honestly, I am still taking pain pills to sleep at night because otherwise I am up ever hour as I try to adjust and get comfortable.

Susan, just wondering, with the costochondritis, did it feel like you had a broken rib? I have had that sensation for some time, especially when taking a deep breath, and actually called my surgeon...he said that ribs and cartilege get damaged frequently in OHS and of course the cartlege will not show up on x-ray. Then again, I did battle the pleurisy thing so maybe that's it...just seems like there are so many little issues that can crop up.

I can't wait to sleep on my stomach again...sleeping on my back has never been my thing but it seems that is the only way I can get comfortable. If I roll on my side, eventually I have this pain and pressure like there is a ton of bricks sitting on chest. Anyone else experience this?

Oh well, all this surmising will be behind me soon as I leave in the morning and have my post-op visit with the surgeon tomorrow. Hopefully I will get a lot of my questions answered.

Good luck kman and thanks for bringing this up.

 

[Susan BAV]

Hi Lorie -

That's exactly it--I even remember asking my doctors if I had a broken rib. One doctor described it as dislocated cartilage and/or rib, and another described it as inflamed cartilage. It hurt when I took a deep breath; and when I laughed, it was pure agony. I also found that the waistband of my slacks, when I would sit in the same position for a long period of time (like going out to dinner), seemed to aggravate it. I don't recall exactly when it came on but it was before my three month post-op visit because I think that I recall talking to my cardio about it at that visit. I think I also may have exacerbated it by sawing some tree branches; I recall having some sharp pain when I was doing that sometime before my three month follow-up. My (very gentle) chiropractor, whom I was cleared to see after three months post-op, wanted to have me wear a rib belt for a month but I balked at that.

I know there are some meds for it and I think, in hindsight, I probably could have benefitted from trying some.

Hope your pain resolves. Travel safe .

 

[temp69]

dont' sweat it, it will go away

dont' sweat it, it will go away

it just takes time, so don't sweat the pain
good luck!

 

[MikeHeim]

I'm over two years post-op and I still get sternum pain from time to time. Usually just a sharp stabbing pain for less than a second. It seems to be worse after exercise for myself at all.

 

[WayneGM]

Ditto.....I'm two years out and still get occasional sternum pain, especially in severe weather changes. Certainly nothing like it was the first months after surgery, but still noticable. It's not enough to impact any of my physical activities or overall quality of life.

 

[queenie]

My sternum hurt from the moment I opened my eyes in ICU continuously for 12 weeks. After that it was when I had done too much that it began to ache. I was told the younger you are the more you feel the pain in your chest. I have known others that are older than me and said that never hurt. Hang in there and listen to your body. Pain is a signal, listen to it.

 

[Curtsmum]

I was told the younger you are the more you feel the pain in your chest.

Are there any heart mums that noticed there children have more pain in the chest, Curt was a baby so we didn't have to deal with chest pain?

Kman hope things get better for you soon, take care.