Lifelong chest aches & pains?

Hi,

I'm at 14months post heart bypass and have had, given the difficulties accessing post-op rehab due to Covid, a pretty good recovery. Working hard on my fitness and my diet etc.

However, I still get a considerable amount of chest discomfort. Aches, pains, numbness and tightness. Nothing overly serious that makes me worry I need to go to the GP just uncomfortable and tiring at times.

I was wondering, from people who have had open heart surgery longer than this, if it's likely to eventually all go away or are aches and pains something that you just have to get used to and are permanent?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

[gilreid1]

Judge. I had a triple bypass October 2019. I like you have still discomfort and occasionally pain on the left side of my chest muscular I think. I wait on replies to your post as I am not sure if I should bother GP. I think it is where they harvest the artery but not sure. I also try and build up my fitness long walks and playing golf. But if I am being honest some days this is an effort and does not come easy.

Stay Safe

[Hidden]

3 years post OHS.

Aches & pains have ‘mostly’ gone, although I still get some musculoskeletal pain & occasional ’nerve’ twinges in left pec, mostly after more intense exercise, especially if I haven’t trained as frequently.

[080311]

Hi,

I had Aortic valve replaced and bypass 4 years ago. They harvested the artery from my mammary gland on the left side of my chest. Had sharp pains described it like an Elastoplast being ripped off. When I had my post op check the surgeon said that when they harvest the artery they rip it out so that after the nerve endings are trying to join up again and sometimes get it wrong and that’s the pain. He said it would take 18 months to settle and he was right on the money. Numbness still get that occasionally haven’t a clue why.

Have very little in the way of reminders even the scar is all but gone.

Best wishes Pauline

[Hidden in reply to 080311]

Glad to hear everything OK 4 years on Pauline! They harvested both my left and right mammary artories so was spared harvesting from my arms or legs but my chest got a bit of a beating.

[QuadroVEINia]

Great question, I’ve been wondering same lately doing the C25K program but am only just over 20 weeks since bypass so put any discomfort down to still ‘healing’...

[Hidden in reply to QuadroVEINia]

Have been following you on your C25K, took me 20 weeks before I even started trying jogging, your progress is amazing! Have now managed a couple of 10K runs, utterly shattering but the feeling afterwards is good!

[QuadroVEINia in reply to Hidden]

Thank you, 10k is even more amazing! Well done to you. I get constant discomfort in my chest, specifically in the left side of my chest where they repurposed the mammary artery, I am sure it is in my head but when I am running it almost feels like it is bouncing a little.... I guess each of us different and our bodies react accordingly.

[Hoppity1]

Hi judge dread I had my bypass 2013 and sorry to say I am in constant pain, not to bad at the beginning but getting worse, told I’m just unlucky, and it’s common but haven’t yet come across anyone else with the same severity can’t walk far or sit in chair in comfort pain killers don’t help I’m trying to push for a ct scan but not having much joy, I tried to get in touch with the surgeon who did the operation and he totally ignored my letters so no help there!!! My GP suggests I go to pain clinic when covid is over !

[Hidden in reply to Hoppity1]

Hi Hoppity. Thank you for your reply, am sorry to hear what your going through and hope the pain clinic can help.

[Chickenlou]

Hi Judge

My fiancé had his bypass about the same time as you and is still struggling too.

His problems are a bit different to yours (breathlessness, lack of energy/stamina, few odd heart rhythms etc) and he is so much “better” then before the bypass when he was having daily angina attacks and struggling to do anything. I am very grateful that’s he had a second chance.

I guess we both just thought the recovery would be done by now and “normal life” post bypass would have resumed and that’s not been the case. I do think some of its down to Covid and lack of aftercare and rehab.

My fiancé is currently having blood tests and X-rays etc to see if there’s a problem - maybe it would be worth you arranging something similar, even if just for reassurance that all’s ok?

[Hidden in reply to Chickenlou]

Hi Chickenlou, thanks for the advice. Hope the test results get to the bottom of your fiancé issues. Like both of you I was expecting this to be mostly behind me by now. Maybe I was being a bit naive in hindsight. Still, as you say having no angina or breathless is wonderful!

[MountainGoat52]

Hi there. I'm almost 3 years post op and still get occasional pain in my chest. It is definitely muscular and responds well to massage. I have never had any issues internally from the actual bypass. The main issue for me are the harvest sites in my arm and leg where there is nerve damage.

[Hidden in reply to MountainGoat52]

Glad to hear you have had no internal issues 3 years on. I suspect I may have considerable nerve damage in my chest as rather than harvest from my arms or legs they harvested two artories from my chest (left and right mammary artories).

[MountainGoat52 in reply to Hidden]

To me that sounds like too much going on in a small area. Opening up the chest and clamping it open for several hours is traumatic in itself. I can't imagine what your scars look like. 😯

[Hidden in reply to MountainGoat52]

Fortunately I'm quite hairy so my scar is naturally camouflaged 😂

[MountainGoat52 in reply to Hidden]

So am I, but I still get stared at by children if they spot it down at the beach. 😁

The one on my arm is quite fine, though being exposed and reasonably prominent is a bit like a "trophy". Even so it doesn't stop medical staff trying to take my pulse on that side. 😂

[shopman]

I still have pins & needles in 3 fingers on the left hand from my bypass. Told at the time that when they have you on the table you are no different to a side of beef at the butchers - this was from 22 years ago and it still happens.

[MountainGoat52 in reply to shopman]

Sorry to hear of the continued nerve damage issues. I thankfully only have numbness and occasional pain at my wrist and part way up my thumb. It is improving, but very slowly. The harvest site on my leg is somewhat worse with a large dead area which regularly feels like I am being stabbed.

Nerve damage can improve. Some years ago I accidentally sawed through my index finger down to the bone and that repaired itself. I do now try to avoid self-inflicted injuries! 😀

[Hidden in reply to shopman]

I got pins and needles in my right thigh, took about a year for that to go away but used to keep me awake some nights. Sorry you still have issues with yours. Worse side effect from the op was scapular dyskinesis in my right shoulder. That was agony but thankfully good physio managed to sort that out.