Left arm pain over 4 months after OHS

[Samgeorge]

Hi, anyone else had any similar problems? I had OHS in January to replace a bicuspid aortic valve. Recovery has been excellent so far and I would say I’m pretty much back to normal with the exception of my right arm. Every so often I’ll move it and get an incredible pain that lasts a few minutes like someone has given me a dead arm. I was wondering if it’s anything to do with surgery or maybe I’ve just pulled a muscle. Been like it for at least a month now.

Thanks Sam

[Mart25]

Hi Sam. Really interesting question. I have the same as you except I get it in both arms. I had OHS for triple bypass 7 months ago. The pain is mainly triggered when I lift my arms above my shoulders. It doesn't happen all the time, the pain is variable and it fades fairly quickly when I lower my arms. It's always in my upper arms close to the shoulders. Sometimes it's extremely painful and I have to grab my arms and give them a massage, which seems to help. It feels to me like muscle pain and I'm suspicious that this is a side effect of the statin that I'm taking. At the moment I'm living with it and hoping it goes away in time. So I'm very interested in your question and what other responses you get!

[Samgeorge in reply to Mart25]

Thanks Mart. Mine sounds very similar but just in the left arm. Not on any meds now so can’t put it down to side effects 😉. My pain seems to worse like you if I lift the arm above the shoulders or if I move it suddenly.

Take care

Sam

[Hidden]

OHS last year, but am seeing Physio as unable to lift arms above shoulders without pain, and even getting towards level with my shoulders is uncomfortable.

Physio seems to think it may have been a case of lifting too much or making use of my arms to help me stand and sit down etc. He also thought that maybe some different physio whilst in hospital would've helped. He made the point that post OHS physio is about getting you to sit up and walk again - but maybe more needs to be done in managing shoulders, given how they are impacted by the stresses put on the sternum during surgery.

I am back for an ITU check up next week at my surgrey hospital, i will be raising this issue with them. Not blaming them, but indicating that this is an area the physio's could advise on whilst watching us sit in that chair for the first & second times!

[Samgeorge in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Brand, interested to know how you get on so please post an update 😉

Take care

Sam

[Hidden in reply to Samgeorge]

It appears my shoulders are in this istuation because of low Ferretine (Iron) levels. The figure for Ferretine should not be below 100, and mine is 28, indicating that i have depleted iron stores. This can cause aches, muscular pain and fatigue, along with associated mood drops.

Whilst i am also being recommended for more physio in general, the current thiking is that a Ferri Infusion should top up my iron levels and eliminate this situation.

So now i just have to wait for my turn in the next waititng list i am to be added to 😆

[Samgeorge in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for the update Brand. Fingers crossed that it works for you and you don’t have to wait too long 🤞

[Cliff_G]

Hi Sam,

I had a monster OHS aortic replacement 3 years ago and for the first couple of years had strange pains in both arms, on the outside/little finger, below the elbow. A neurologist said he couldn't detect any reason and prescribed some nerve-targetting pain killers. As I was already on a bunch of meds and having trouble getting the balance right I didn't go on them at the time - the only one my Cardiologist would accept wasn't the most effective for the pain, I understand.

However, now I only get the pain on the left arm. I mentioned this a couple of months back to the cardiothoracic surgeon who is reviewing my annual post-op CT scans, and he said it is relatively rare but not unheard of to get these neural pains after OHS, (and that when you do, it's often on the left, in fact). They think it could be disturbance to the brachial plexus (a nerve network between the chest and the arm) caused by pulling things around to get inside. I got the impression this was still somewhat of an unproven theory, but I may be wrong.

I would say it's worth a word with your GP. A pulled muscle should settled down and anyway shouldn't give you a sudden acute pain that then goes away - they are normally more consistent low-level pains.

Good luck

[Samgeorge in reply to Cliff_G]

Thanks Cliff_G that’s really useful info. Will definitely speak to GP and cardiologist if it doesn’t get any better. Hope you get your arm pain sorted as well.

Take care

Sam