Hi. I had a mitral valve repair on 3rd March and came out of hospital 2 weeks later.
The one thing I was unprepared for was the pain in my breast bone 24/7. Paracetamol barely takes the edge off it and the codeine and naproxen prescribed by my GP both give me headaches.
I find it extremely difficult to find any sleeping position that isn't really uncomfortable and, while trying to do this, seem to have pulled a muscle in my left side and really upset both sides of my lower back.
I find I dread bedtime because of this!
Is this normal and how long will it be before I start to feel some improvement in the pain in my breast bone?
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kasinc88
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Hi sorry to hear you are suffering. I had my latest OHS six years ago and can honestly say I didn’t suffer pain in sternum. I was very careful to not bend over at any time as I did that once and ended up in A& E! It takes a good few weeks for the sternum to heal but you shouldn’t be suffering so much pain. I would ring your GP if I was you just to get checked over and maybe try some other pain killers. Good luck 👍
Sorry to hear you are struggling so much. I would speak to your GP again to see if they can give you something else for the pain. I had tramadol after my first AVR, but after my second one they gave me morphine because I was in so much pain in my shoulders.
Are you trying to lie down flat at night? If so, try sleeping slightly propped up, either getting a v-shaped pillow or using a rolled up duvet. I found it a much more comfortable position for several weeks, and I don’t usually like sleeping on my back.
It takes about six weeks for the breastbone to knit back together and about the same again for it to be completely solid.
Hi Kasinc88. I'd agree with Suzy. I had aortic valve replacement in December and while everyone's pain thresholds will be different, and I certainly experienced some pain and discomfort for the first few weeks, nothing like what you're describing. So ask for help/advice as there's no point suffering in silence. Hopefully your GP will be able to help. Good luck and I hope you manage to get things sorted. Nic x
I found sleeping difficult for about six to eight weeks after open heart surgery, and was only getting two or three hours sleep at a time. From what I read on this forum this isn't uncommon. Some people said they sleep better in a chair than in a bed during this initial stage of their recovery, or as an alternative propped up either with pillows or with various proprietary devices that will wedge you in a semi upright position. Personally I prefer sleeping on my side, but one side was quite a bit more tender than the other.
After about six or eight weeks sleep became much easier, still not perfect but much easier with five or six hours sleep at a stretch and occasionally a full seven or eight hours.
I'm now 24 weeks post surgery and for about the past six or eight weeks sleep has been back to where it was before the heart surgery, with seven or eight hours unbroken sleep virtually every night.
Everyone heals at a different pace, however I get the impression that my recovery has been fairly typical.
My sternum pain hit me 4 weeks after my mitral valve repair, but I found codeine was enough to take the edge off it to let me sleep, albeit waking up frequently. I was told this was the nerves that were severed during surgery starting to recover. I could only sleep on my back to begin with - I rigged up a wooden board, raised a couple of feet at the head, with a kiddy mattress on it. This was much more comfortable than lying flat for the first few weeks.
It took about 3 months for my sternum pain to start easing and I could start sleeping on my side. Now, 7 months post-op, I'm down to just the occasional twinge.
There's clearly a wide range of pain levels experienced during recovery and I would also suggest revisiting your GP.
I had an AVR in October 2018 and have only been pain-free for the last 2 weeks! I know everyone is different and heals at different rates but it has been a long hard slog for me. I too had problems with the painkillers and most of the time was only able to take paracetamol which is almost totally ineffective in those circumstances and gave very little relief. Its hard, but keep going. It will get easier. I now feel as if I am coming out of hibernation and can begin to live my life again now that I am not dogged by the pain.
As for sleeping comfortably, a v pillow is good and also a back rest (from Argos) which allows you to sleep sitting up and is surprisingly comfortable. I still do not lie flat in bed but am gradually getting there.
Its early days for you. Good luck & hope you become pain free soon.
It is early days, if the pain is not controlled I would get in touch with the cardiac unit where the MV repair took place, they should be more used to the problem than your GP.
As for sleeping, my after care nurse said sleep wherever is comfortable. I found a recliner chair perfect.. After about 5 weeks sleeping in bed was possible by using a Proheeder bed wedge (Amazon)
The most important thing is DO NOT suffer the pain seek help
I agree with Suzy, Nic and Wendy, I had my AVR and bypass surgery in August, but after the initial 6 weeks, I was pretty well pain free from my sternum. You are still fairly early on in the mending of your sternum, but I would speak to your GP, and ask for stronger pain killers. I found co-dydramol to be good. When is your check up with your surgeon? Make a list of questions to ask, and don't forget it, as I did!
And hello to everyone else reading this that was so much help to me during my wait for surgery and recovery. Thank you all, it was and has been so much appreciated.
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