Sternotomy

[BigT2013]

Hi just curious I'm just over 3 weeks post surgery.

Does anyone know how long u still get pain in the sternum / breastbone after surgery?

A majority of pain has gone healing well, but on sneezing /coughing and certain movements I have pain and or ache / twinges sensation at top of breastbone centrally and slightly to both sides just under collar bone area is this normal? 🤔

I know it's early days! 😮

Any comments /advice appreciated.

BigT 😶

[skid112 Heart Star]

Hi bigt, early days my friend, try hugging a pillow on a cough or a sneeze to ease the movement. Pain and discomfort will slowly subside, post about six weeks but you'll still feel the occasional twinge and ache for a while yet.

Get well soon Mark

[Heather1957]

From my experience I am still getting some discomfort after having a bypass June 2nd last year. Don't get me wrong, it is certainly not agony but I still get some scar discomfort. Sneezing and coughing no longer bother me (except when I have some muscular problems). I didn't get a lot of pain ever from the sternum/breastbone, whoever did the finishing touches did an excellent job with me, but yes, I did get a lot of twinges. If you are the same as me, you will see the surgeon or one of their staff 6 weeks after the surgery and if you think there is still excessive pain/discomfort, raise it with them. I think we are all different, but remember to take it easy and don't be tempted to lift anything (inc your arms above your head)

[Heather1957]

Just to add, I had some discomfort/pain post op in some very odd places and still occasionally do. I sometimes find that if I lie on my back I get pain in the upper back - I don't understand it, but it happens. I have found that there is nothing 'normal' about our recovery and very few people have the same experience.

Most of my recovery was muscular, nerve and skeletal (nothing serious) including a trapped nerve which still has left me with some tingling in my little finger and ring finger on my left hand but I have more feeling than I did after the op.

I am sure that our aches and pains will vary depending on how we were lying during the op.

Coughing and sneezing is a bug*er but as Mark said, use a pillow or cushion to hold against the chest and eventually it does ease off.

[stevejb1810]

Coughing and sneezing were pure agony but thankfully it gets to bearable in about 4 weeks and largely pain free shortly after that. Twinges and odd transient pains will go on for about 6-8 weeks whilst the bone knits back together. I’m 4 months post op and still get the odd little reminder once in a while. So, at 3 weeks you are very much at the beginning, but it gets better rapidly from here on in.

Steve

[Zimmies]

Hi I am 10 months post op and still get get the odd minor pain in my left chest. I was told this is the nerves repairing themselves! You should get an X-Ray at about 6 weeks to check the sternum has knitted together. There is an anxiety about coughing and sneezing but I was assured you cannot do an damage to to sternum. Use a rolled up towel and hold it tight to your chest when coughing I found it helped.

[BigT2013 in reply to Zimmies]

Hi I do use a cushion and sort of hug myself coughs not to bad but a sneeze 🤧 really hurts feels like someone has drove a stake into my breastbone!!! 😮

Then after I have a dull ache centrally and a pain either side where ribs meet breastbone. Only in one spot!! Top of scar just under collarbone.

My shoulders ache too.

Don't know if it's one of sternal wires or fixing!!

Thanks for info

BigT

[Zimmies in reply to BigT2013]

Hi you are describing typical symptoms, it does get better! I was offered 12 sessions of light circuit training run by our local cardiac nurses and found that really helped. This is after you are signed off with your 6 week check up.

[skid112 Heart Star]

Your shoulders will ache, all the muscles around the area are interlinked, about 6 months post op I went for some physio and deep tissue massage to ease it all.