I want my Right Arm Back

[Batgrrly]

Anyone else do less invasive right side heart opo and still trying to get right arm use back?

[jimmyq]

You could talk to a nurse on the BHF Heart Helpline on 0300 330 3311 or your GP about it.

[Batgrrly]

Sorry from US and we don’t get the careres like you do in UK.

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

A few days after my bypass I became aware the little finger and it neighbour, on my right hand, were not as they should be. They had a feeling of numbness, but with pins and needles at the same time, felt cold and lacked movement (could not bend them to reach my palm) and strength. I was told to give it time. It was still an issue – I felt sure it was linked to the cannula in my wrist – on discharge but I was again told to give it time. I had the same response when I had the stitches out and a GP review. Four weeks later I saw the same GP again as a number of blood tests were repeated and there was talk of nerve conductance tests. However, the senior partners overruled this.

I then thought back. Five or six years ago I started having an issue with trigger finger and not wanting to have steroid injections worked out a set of physio exercises that did the trick. Anyway, after over four weeks of this (on my follow up appointment at the hospital they said see the GP) thigs are much improved – the movement has fully returned, the strength is nearly there and the pins and needles are much reduced. The only issue is that they are still cold and get painful when I handle things in the chilled cabinet. I will go back to the GP if this is still here in another few months. If you are still having issues I would suggest you work pout a set of exercises and give it a try.

[Dockdog]

I had similar symptoms immediately after a major heart op 7 months ago and gradually the pins and needles in the r/h little finger has diminished and also a nerve pain in my wrist area. I met with some indifference to my concerns with the GP but the surgical consultant at the Brompton where I had the op explained that during the op when they push the rib cage over to get to the heart it disturbs the nerve that runs up into the right arm via the shoulder and it is fairly common to get this numbness and pins and needles. Now it hardly notices and I am confident will disappear finally as the chest cavity rib cage settles down. Hope so in your case too, all good wishes.

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to Dockdog]

Thanks or your reply. That makes totasal sense. Maybe my surgeon would have explained that at my eight week review and discharge if he had been there but I saw his No. 2. Things are improving slowly. Did think of asking at rehab but I am only OHS patient and I think they would say see your GP and/or lose weight (BMI 26 and cardiologist quitter happy as I am tall).

[Dockdog]

You are very welcome, I do feel sometimes we rather get taken for granted post op and I was so lucky with the human quality of the surgical team in my case. They gave me confidence from my very first meeting with them pre op which makes a huge difference throughout surgery and recovery.

[Batgrrly]

My arm is getting slowly better with some exercise and stretching. Back on the pathetic weights I started with 4 years ago. I am trying to get where I can workout for 45 to 60 minutes as gym doing low level stuff for the next 2 months. Then slowly get back to what I was doing before operation. I have been told it will be 6-8 months. That's 2 down for me.