Shoulder Pain: Hello and thank you! I... - British Heart Fou...

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Shoulder Pain

KABWife profile image
13 Replies

Hello and thank you! I live in the U.S. and as of yet, have found very little support for my husband, who just passed his 5 month post op mark, much less for myself, his wife. I'm the one who is spearheading the changes in lifestyle that are so important after this surgery, and I feel like I'm doing it blindly. I have so many worries and don't know where to have them addressed. My newest concern is the arm pain that has developed 4 months after his triple bypass. It is severe and has caused him to drop out of the cardiac rehab program that was the only place where he was actually getting any kind of support. The pain is not in one particular spot, but seems to move from his bicep to his neck to his shoulder. This has left him unable to help with shoveling snow or any physical work, leaving me with having to deal with all of it. We are fairly young (50) and at this point, I'm really feeling very discouraged. I was told that this is supposed to be the best time in our lives. Our kids are grown and we are supposed to be in a good place in our lives. I'm still waiting for that to begin! OK, I'm done with my rant. I just had to get it off my chest, so to speak. I'm wondering if anyone else has had issues with shoulder pain after by pass surgery, and if so, what is it, and how was it treated. Thank you all.

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KABWife profile image
KABWife
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13 Replies
080311 profile image
080311

Hello KABWife

Welcome to the forum, there’s a couple of things in your post first your husband’s shoulder and arm pain, could be from the operation they do tend to have us in some very extreme positions on the table! A word with your GP or the equivalent in the USA might be worth asking, here when I did my cardio rehab I could ask the physios there. Helping your husband well here lots of us follow the Mediterranean diet it’s not a diet as such just a healthy way of eating, that the whole family can follow. Go on the BHF web site and you will find lots of help.

When we have gone through our own heart event and come out the other side, we have a new way of living, a new diet, tablets to take and exercise to follow, this is the new normal. I had my Aortic valve replaced and bypass done 4 years ago and I am grateful every day to the medical team that gave me my life back.

Having a good vent is good! Remember your part of the Hearties family and there will be someone here to listen or to give you a shoulder to lean on if that’s what you need, but remember take time for yourself, I know you didn’t have the surgery but you were there every step of the way.

Take good care Pauline

KABWife profile image
KABWife in reply to 080311

Thank you for your response. I was feeling a bit overwhelmed by it all yesterday by a MAJOR snowfall that was occurring while I was sitting at my desk at work looking forward to having to deal with it when I got home. Due to his relative youth, "hubby" seemed to recover very quickly. He was back to work 3 weeks post-op, but I have to keep reminding myself that he's not quite back up to speed. I hope that the shoulder issue is not serious and that he will be able to continue with his cardiac rehab regimen before too long. Thanks so much for "listening" as it felt good to unburden.

080311 profile image
080311 in reply to KABWife

I know exactly how you feel, had my surgery ( Aortic valve replaced and bypass) 5 weeks later my husband had a huge stroke, and I became his carer. My life certainly became very different, but what I find really hard is thinking for both of us. I know it doesn’t sound much but sometimes it makes me exhausted. Taking care of the household/ garden also is difficult. We have now a firm that mows the lawns and cuts the hedges. So until your husband is up to speed maybe look at getting some help with the jobs he used to do, just to take the pressure off you.Take care of yourself, don’t try and do everything or you will be in danger of ill health.

Best wishes Pauline

Hi. Just a thought - your husband is recovering from a big op.and shovelling snow is a heavy old job - I wonder if that is over ambitious and more recovery time is needed before hard labour....

Qualipop profile image
Qualipop in reply to

That occurred to me too. Have always been told that shovelling snow is a NO NO for anyone with a heart condition - ever. Get a snow blower or hire someone

Hatchjd profile image
Hatchjd

Could your husband have a shoulder rotator cuff tear that is causing the pain. I had this twice, once by an arm jerk from my dogs lead when he ran after a squirrel and the second reaching under a dresser for a sock. It was just a bit stiff initially then got worse over a few weeks. I had aching pain for months in my bicep, shoulder and neck especially when raising it, reaching behind my back was agony. It took 6-9 months to resolve. Every so often it reminds me it is still a bit weaker. I had to be really careful in rehab not to aggravate it.

Handel profile image
Handel

Just remembering that my husband's arms and shoulders were really bad following surgery. As Pauline said, the positions they put a person in before the operation are quite extreme. the pain and limited movement lasted until the weather got warmer. Ibuprofen gel helped him quite a bit.You're going through a lot too so be kind to yourself. Sending love and virtual hugs xxxx

KABWife profile image
KABWife in reply to Handel

Thank you for your response. I'm hoping that the weather here in Maine (the northern most state) will turn more spring like before too long. I know that my aches and pains are exacerbated from the frigid temps, so I'm sure that the weather can't be doing him any favors as he recovers. Ibuprofen does help, but not enough and knowing that he's in such pain makes me feel so helpless. Thanks for the reminder to take care. Was so looking forward to a special trip for our tenth wedding anniversary late last year, but between a world-wide pandemic and a major heart attack, that, sadly did not happen. Hoping for a vacation SOON!

El-Tel1990 profile image
El-Tel1990

Hi KABWife,I am 6 weeks post Quad bypass. I had a rotator cuff problem before the op that caused minor problems. However I did develop a different type of shoulder pain ( left) on the same shoulder after the operation. I have treated it with heat patches and light exercises I picked up on YouTube. If it hurts at night I take paracetamol. My discomfort moves from neck to shoulder to clavicle etc. It has eased immensely since I started the heat and exercise.

Hope this advice helps

Terry

Electricbike profile image
Electricbike

Hi KABWife, just a thought, but after my HA plus stent I got a "frozen shoulder". The consultant said that this was loosely associated with cardiac operations. After nearly 2 years I've still got it!J

Karrawatta profile image
Karrawatta

Hi, am just wondering if he may have some referred pain from the low neck (cervical spine). It may be as simple as this and could be helped by a good physical therapist..

It could also be due to a rotator cuff/ biceps sprain/ tear as others have mentioned..

Sunnie2day profile image
Sunnie2day

As you write you're in the USA, you might want to look for information on the following websites:

The Mayo Clinic

The Cleveland Clinic

Baylor Med (Texas)

Harvard Med

Johns Hopkins

American Heart Foundation

All of the above publish excellent layperson-friendly articles that can be downloaded free for printing out to use as offline references. I especially like the Mayo Clinic and Baylor for heart info (I have several heart conditions, worked my entire career in the USA until retiring home to Scotland in 2010) but all of the ones I've listed are outstanding sources of helpful information. Here in the UK we depend on the British Heart Foundation and of course our NHS, but many of us also refer to the US sites for dependable information.

Welcome to the club you never wanted to join (heart patient and/or loved one of) but really, welcome - you'll find us a very supportive group of Hearties who understand completely the need for a good wee rant now and again:)

KABWife profile image
KABWife in reply to Sunnie2day

Thank you for your response. It's good to feel "listened to", although I'm not at all sure that my rant was "wee", it felt wonderful to let it out.

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