Sore and numb thumb

[wiltsgirl]

Hi hope you are all doing well. I had bypass surgery in March 18 and they attempted to harvest arteries from my left arm. They were unable to do so but I still have a large scar from writst to elbow. Over the past few weeks I have had a soreness the thumb area and also a day last week I had a numbness in my thumb, right side, its not painful, more of an irritation. Has anyone had attempted harvest and experieced this sort of thing? I will go to my GP if it continues. Thanks in advance

[Hidden]

Until your post, I had not heard of harvesting an artery from an arm however that is my ignorance. The most successful harvest point is from the inner surface of the breast tissue where scarring does not usually have any long term issues. The second place is usually the inner surface of the left or right leg and in the big picture both are "usually" used for a bypass. However, for many reasons your leg arteries may not be suitable, then the sky is probably the limit. All that said, when operating on almost every part of the body, there is almost always a price to pay and why there are consent forms for damage and other issues arising from saving your life.

Personally, after a bypass in June 2018 I have two long term issues, left middle chest is numb and the complete length of my inner lower leg is numb and has always been a tad sore since the operation. I was informed of the possibilities of this legacy and that the leg could well be the most difficult to heal because of the length of the incision and that there is not that much tissue there in the first place.

Numbness probably means damage to some degree of a nerve that could but probably will not repair. Furthermore my worst area of pain and discomfort is right at the end (or beginning) of the incision close to my ankle. The fact I am alive to be aware of this discomfort is - to me - a very small price to pay. The chest numbness is about the size of a saucer and feel the same way about that.

Your symptoms and the numbness on the side of your thumb sounds like radial nerve damage and would guess that is quite normal, given the scenario I experienced. Arteries can or cannot be used for a variety of reasons and I assume to make the operation as swift as possible, multiple sights are chosen and prepared before the actual bypass so am again, not surprised they did not use the arm site. Things could get better in time, especially when you say the artery was not used but you should be prepared to have this for some time. I hope your operation went well and will be looking forward to many healthy happy years ahead of you. My kind regards to you

[wiltsgirl in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for your reply. I guess I am lucky in some ways as they did use my chest arteries and leg ones with the leg being harvested from my groin to knee so only have a small scar below my knee. You're right I am glad that I am alive and having this discomfort is a small price to pay for that. I still have some numbness on my upper chest and also hold my chest when I sneeze still! I was with someone on rehab that also had arteries taken from her arm. They did check my arm arteries prior to the op by scan and blood flow, but it looks like when they actually 'got in there', they were too small. Wishing you a continued recovery, regards x

[Hidden in reply to wiltsgirl]

Well it is an ill wind - I still clasp my chest when I cough or sneeze and sometimes when \I forget, the pain remains for a couple of days. I was slightly concerned although the reality of such a shock to the body would probably have repercussions for years to come. Your kind reply and comment regarding sneezing and that you are three months further down the line has really given me a reality check and that there is absolutely nothing wrong at all - so we both benefit from your post - thank you so much and wish you a good recovery. The chest numbness is really quite a strange feeling so could only imagine how it can affect other people.

[Hidden]

I had a vein harvested from my left arm during my Cabg x 5. The scar itches like hell,my thumb aches and my elbow throbs if I over do it.Also my chest scar itches and feel as if the wires are stretching.Had mine April 2018. xxx

[wiltsgirl in reply to Hidden]

Hi thanks for your reply. Have you tried bio oil? Good luck with your recovery x

[Hidden in reply to wiltsgirl]

Yeah tried bio oil just made me feel like a chip.Just have to ride it out I suppose xxx

[wiltsgirl in reply to Hidden]

Think you're doing it wrong!

[Hidden in reply to wiltsgirl]

What do you mean x

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I thing she refers to you feel like a chip lol