Two weeks post op update

Bassman · Apr 12, 2012

Well my doc gave me something to help sleep and i am managing the pain with only ibuproprofen and the incision looks good. The pysical therapyst was here yesterday and left with her tail between her legs when she saw how I was doing two weeks post op, ( walking 20 min twice daily). Stil my only complaint is the poping in and out of my sternum as I move even so slightly. I know this is expected but is not easy to get used to. I have limited movement as best I can but I stll need to eat, shower, walk and do somthings so we will see.

bocco · Apr 12, 2012

I am getting that popping also at 3 weeks not so bad but it does concern me a little. Non of my docs mentioned it. It doesn't really hurt it's just a little unsettleing to hear that pop.

TheGymGuy · Apr 12, 2012

The popping is normal, I am seeing it too. Believe it or now, our ribs which are attached to the sternum pop quite a bit and I used to crack them by applying pressure to my mid-sternum before surgery. People here have reported that this happens and is quite normal.

Greg a · Apr 12, 2012

TheGymGuy said:
The popping is normal, I am seeing it too. Believe it or now, our ribs which are attached to the sternum pop quite a bit and I used to crack them by applying pressure to my mid-sternum before surgery. People here have reported that this happens and is quite normal.

It is normal that the ribs click off the sternum until the conective tissues are fully healed I dont recomend anyone tries to pop 'em by applying pressure mid sternum

TheGymGuy · Apr 12, 2012

Greg a said:
It is normal that the ribs click off the sternum until the conective tissues are fully healed I dont recomend anyone tries to pop 'em by applying pressure mid sternum

My point was that just like cracking fingers, I used to pop those before my surgery. Not sure how this would work after

bocco · Apr 12, 2012

I sure wish I had been warned about this ahead of time. I was thinking that I wasn't healing the bones back together right.

nngbwh · Apr 12, 2012

You are still in a recovery mode. Everything sounds normal to me.

Ovie · Apr 13, 2012

I had no idea you could pop your ribs, how strange. I'm 7 weeks post op and experienced the popping for sometime, though it wasn't as frequent as it sounds you're encountering it, but as said..it's normal. The staff in my Cardiac Rehab always ask about the popping before I start, kind of gives them an idea on how your sternum is healing up.