swelling or a speed bump?

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M

michellep

I have what looks like a speed bump going from my neck down to the insision. The incision looks great. Is it normal? That is where most of my pain is.
By the way, my scar is less than 4 inches long. Dr. Speir is a God among men!
 
Michelle,

The speed bump is normal - had one each time. As long as the area is not inflamed looking you should be fine.

Great news on the 4 inch incision. I am very jealous.
 
My "speed bump" as you call it lasted at least 3 months. I remember, 2 months after the operation thinking that the surgeon had done something to make the sternum stick, but it was only swelling, so don't worry, it will eventually go away.

My avatar photo was taken 5 weeks after the operation, and if you look very carefully, you can see the speed bump!!!
 
:eek: You've got me beat!!! I thought I had the shortest sternum scar at 5" Awesome! Can you believe that they were able to get any work done in that little tiny opening?? It's amazing.

The whole area will continue to go through lots of changes as you heal. I found that the surgeon's assistant was a marvelous source of answers to just about everything. Use their office. That's what they're there for.

:) Marguerite
 
Normal....I'm 7 weeks out today (yay) and I think mine was pretty much gone a week or two ago. Now, I just have this little bullet hole thingy there. But, I don't think I'll scare the kids at school as much as I thought I would....when I go back!
 
The swelling is normal. Even though the opening on the outside is small, in most cases the entire sternum is cut, so the area around it from top to bottom will swell. I remember being self-conscious about it when I went back to work at 8 weeks, but don't really remember when it went away. I do know that after I had my wires removed (6 years later), I became even less bumpy.
 
I'm 5 weeks and 6 days out and my speed bump is nearly dissappeared after being fairly prominent after surgery. That's awesome on the 4 inch scar, I think mine must be close to a foot.

Best,

Brad
 
echo everyone else.. yes I had a speed bump, and it lasted a few months. Even know, when I look at my chest, above the incision, the bones look uneven. One side appears higher than the other. Maybe its always been that way, and I just cant remember.

Glad to hear your doing well otherwise.
 
Mine is like jugular to bellybutton (well, almost!). :D Yet, Dr. Speir was my surgeon also. He is a wise man as well as a surgeon par excellence. He evidently knows that men like to show off their scars, and women not so much. :D

I would echo another poster who advised calling Dr. Speir's nurses and assistants any time you have any questions. They are prompt and very helpful.
 
Glad to hear you made it back ok. I am 10 weeks out now, and I think I lost on the incision size, mine is only 4" long and it now is more of a little groove now. I told my girlfriend that I could roll a marble up and down my chest now.
Hmmm, maybe I could try that while doing pelvic tilts to strengthen my lower back.
No one has mentioned this but is everyones scar perfectly straight and symetrical? I wonder if they really measured to get it perfect. Im just so impressed with the outcome, its amazing what they can do these days.
 
My lump was confined to the top of the incision. It took about 6-8 weeks to fully dissipate. :)


Arnold Ziffel
My incision is perfectly straight, like done with a straight edge however isn?t exactly vertical. :eek:
By the way we have a couple of things in common my surgery was 2 years to the day before yours and I also have a 29mm Mosaic. :)
 
Your Speed bump.. was what I called my dinosaur bone!
I am pretty little and it seemed SO huge!! It was pretty much gone by 4mo as I recall. I am now 8mo post op and have no sign of it.

Kuddos on the little incision.. Mine is pretty tiny too:)
Can still wear lots of low cut shirts and not see it!
 
I still have a little bony bump up there and it's tender, especially if the cat steps on it. Anywhere in that 'rut' the bones are tender and my cat loves to sleep on my chest.

pelvic tilts? hmmm
 
yea, more like a dinosaur bone...

yea, more like a dinosaur bone...

Around my collar bone it does look more like a dino bone running down my chest. Hurts too, very stiff. It's good to know that it's normal. now on to my next question...
 
hensylee - mine was very tender as well until I had the wires removed. My first graders would sit in my lap when we were on the floor, and I would just about die if they leaned their heads back on my chest. Eventually, the pain was there even without pressure and the wire was causing bruising from under the skin. Since wire removal, no pain!
 
I must have caught Dr. Speir on a bad day, I've got the 7 to 8 inch line of life on my chest. I did have my surgery between Christmas and New Year. Perhaps he was all rested from the holidays and felt more skilled when you were on the table. No complaints, he and his staff (Jaime Keith) were great.

For me, four weeks post op on Wednesday, I've got a nice bump still going on. It's pretty tender to the touch and I notice my collar bone gets really sore, especially at night when I'm trying to overcompensate for the discomfort in the middle.

Glad to hear you're doing so well!!

Chris
 
My sternum scar was about 3 to 4 inches at most. You can hardly see it now, the benefit of a hairy chest :)

I had a "speed bump" for a few months though but it didn't bother me, just some itchiness.

Regards,
Stan
 
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