I had a triple bypass in early June and believe I am recovering well, now post-op week 5. The graft was harvested from my left forearm. Immediately after surgery I had pins and needles in both my hands and it improved rapidly over the first couple of weeks. However for the last 2-3 weeks it has not improved. In my right (non-harvest) hand the top 1/3 of my little finger is continually numb. In my left hand (harvest) both my little finger and the one next to it are about 90% numb. In practice, apart from the numb feeling fine motor movements such as writing with a pen are shaky.
I'm concerned about blood clots as the pins and needles suggests blood is not flowing.
Any thoughts anyone? Should I be unduly concerned about this?
Written by
Deserrol
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Pins and needles are usually from trapped or damaged nerves. I wake every morning with pins and needles in my right little finger because of disc pressure on a nerve. I also had the same after a hysterectomy where the surgeon nicked a nerve; easily done as they are only as thick as a piece of cotton. It does need checking with your GP, especially if there's any discolouration.
A few days after my bypass surgery I noticed slight pain in my shoulder running down my arm and finishing with my little and ring finger being frozen with a pins and needles sensation. The first thoughts it was how I had been lying and give it a day or two. Once home it continued and I raised it with a GP. Basically it was give it time. I asked again at surgical discharge time and it was suggested I speak to my GP (there was a pattern emerging here). One GP wanted to have nerve conductance tests carried out but was overridden by a senior partner. I had already been doing "hand" physio I had used for trigger finger a few years earlier and things were improving slowly. Doing my own research I found that this whilst not common is not uncommon following OHS (open heart surgery). Whilst bypassing, and repairing or replacing valves is delicate work opening the chest is brutal by comparison.
What appears to have happened in my case is my ulnar nerve was "nipped" where it passes through the shoulder. This can also occur at the elbow but more from bad positioning of the arm(s) rather than a result of accessing the chest cavity. It cleared up fully somewhere between four and six months. In your case it sounds like you have been extremely unlucky with both arms being affected. Obviously if you are concerned speak to your GP.
It has occurred again after nearly three years but I think it related to to the pressure going through my arms with the frequent transfers (currently in a wheelchair in waking hours) unless I have been left with a weakness there. Although the pins and needles are in the hand and fingers mobility is not affected. The pain in the shoulder and elbow is much more intense and I occasionally take a Oxycodone for it.
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