Post surgery question

[Mrgriff]

Hello, I had a valve replacement in Feb and still have discomfort in my chest. Is this normal? Thank you x

[Coper10]

Hello, I had an aortic valve replacement at the end of March. On occasions I feel some numbness, slight tingling and occasional tenderness. These sensations don't last too long and aren't all the time. My cardiac rehab person said that this may continue for up to a year after surgery. I don't know if that helps but if you are concerned I'd consult with a medic.

[Mrgriff in reply to Coper10]

Thank you for replying, this helps and puts my mind at rest 🙂

[Highlandmist]

Hi I had a mitral valve repair in August last year. Up until about a month ago, I still had some numbness (where the wires were removed) and tenderness - this did decline as the months passed and I began to realise it wasn't happening so much.

It's 11 months now, and these sensations are going.

My consultant told me that it would take about a year for the heart to 'recover'. Speak to your consultant for reassurance

[Mrgriff in reply to Highlandmist]

Thank you so much for this I appreciate your time 😊

[Heartfeltgood in reply to Highlandmist]

I was told by the surgeon the pain would go away in a year from triple bypass surgery, that I have found to be not true. I wish you the best in your recovery.

[Heartfeltgood]

I don't know about heart valve replacement but a triple bypass has given me pain for seven years, you would not believe the things I have tried to to feel no pain. Singing bowls tuning forks, Om, the good thing is it is not my heart but it can slow me down because it feels like it is my heart. I think it is nerve damage from the surgery my cardiologist says there is nothing they can do.I have tried cold showers, that works, but I can't stand in the shower all day and the relief has only been temporary so far.

[andy110519]

Hi, I had AVR and a graft just over 2 years ago & still can't lie on my left side for more than a short time without getting an unpleasant feeling. I can also overdo it physically with putting too much strain through my chest and it will hurt but that's very rare. I think that although every thing is healed properly the structure has been pulled apart and is not quite the same as previously.However I my heart is healthier than before the op and I am back running and swimming as fast as before.

Good luck with your recovery.

Andy

[TMeditation]

I had aortic valve replacement and the discomfort went on for several months. I was told to expect this due to the trauma the chest suffers during open heart surgery. (I didn’t ask for any more detail 🤣) Don’t concern yourself too much - discomfort will eventually disappear. Just enjoy having a heart that’s working beautifully once again! I would also say you’re talking about discomfort, (which sounds muscular) and not pain? If it was pain I think I’d ask my doctor to check it out. Good luck. Sue 🙏

[LiveToRide]

I had midcab cabbage end of March, I have a constant burning sensation and numbness that spreads from top of chest down onto stomach, it feels like nerve pain, not pleasant. I am hoping time will mend it.

[MountainGoat52]

I'm 3 years post triple bypass and have never had any issues or pain with the work around my heart, but my chest muscles have never fully recovered. I massage my chest when showering which does help and I feel that the situation is slowly improving. The pain (and it is actual muscular pain) occurs mainly when I have been sitting still for a while.

I have most problems with my harvest sites, particularly with my leg which now has thread veins around my ankle and the area aches most evenings. There is considerable nerve damage in the area. I also had an artery harvested from my left arm and have nerve damage at my wrist and up the lower part of my thumb.

All in all, these issues are relatively minor when considering the excellent work done by the surgeons. 😀

[Hidden]

HiI had my AVR at the end of January this year. There is sometimes a little discomfort in the middle of my sternum. It only lasts a few minutes.

To think the chest has been cut open and then wired back up again, it’s not surprising really.

Discomfort is acceptable but if you have pain which lasts for some time, I’d get checked out.

Well done on your recovery

❤️Maisie❤️

[AndyM69]

Hi there

I think we’ve all had similar experiences. I had a quadruple bypass just over 12 months ago. Initially in the first few months my pain was very severe and muscular and I was very sore. My GP prescribed pain killers knowing I was sensible and at around 4 or so months I started to taper off the painkillers. I did have some wound infections and my wound was reopened twice so it wasn’t smooth sailing- but the plumbing job was all fine!

At 12 months post op I still have tenderness at the top of my sternum, there’s quite a few lumps and bumps of bone and wires and some are quite prominent so the skin pulls over them when I move sometimes.

My harvest sites are also a bit tender and there is one area on my leg where I have no sensation at all but sometimes still feel pain, which is strange.

At my preop they were good at explaining what would happen before, during and after the operation but I do think unless you’ve gone through this type of surgery, where your chest is opened, then you don’t really understand what it’s like. That’s why this forum is so good!

I would say to anyone that over the first 12 months after the operation you will have different feelings and sensations and you have to get used to the changes to your body as a result of the operation.

As ever though, if you’re concerned about your heart then it’s always best to ask a medical professional.

I hope you continue with your recovery.

Andy