Aching chest: Hi all, I’m 7 weeks post... - British Heart Fou...

British Heart Foundation

51,113 members32,246 posts

Aching chest

Triheart profile image
4 Replies

Hi all, I’m 7 weeks post triple op and in the last couple of days my whole chest area has been aching so much more than before? Is this due to the ‘numbness’ wearing off, I’m taking paracetamol (which Id stopped taking a couple of weeks ago) any other suggestions? Thank you

Written by
Triheart profile image
Triheart
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
4 Replies
Razor1967 profile image
Razor1967

Funnily enough I am 8 weeks post CABG x 6 today and the same is happening to me. My left chest area is OK as that is almost all numb, I guess from where the mammary artery was harvested. However my right middle chest area has really started to to become painful to the point I am back on the 8 (max) paracetamol a day. When they kick in the pain subsides. However when it wears off it feels like I have been kicked by a horse !! I am of the same opinion as you that that the nerves etc are returning etc. I mentioned it to the cardiac nurse on my fortnightly phone call. She asked does it hurt when you do a sharp intake of breath and I said no more than it usually does and she said it should be nothing to worry about. I was concerned it was a lung clot or something !! My follow up Cardioligist appt (phone call again) is on the 14th September and I will mention it then. Just let's hope it is nothing more serious than the nerves etc knitting back together 🤔🙄

Tubbylardo profile image
Tubbylardo

It's normal. I still get the odd pain and numbness now, 14 months later. Funnily enough the warm and damp weather seems to make it worse.

Chappychap profile image
Chappychap

I think it's pretty normal.

You've got to remember that your chest, shoulder and back muscles all take a terrible beating during open heart surgery. In order to give the surgical team access the rib cage is prized apart and your arms are twisted above your head. Immediately following the operation we tend to be very gentle on ourselves, but six to eight weeks post operation is the earliest date recommended for a return to work, and it's in that period that most of us start to become more active, even if it's just small things like sleeping differently.

Consequently that six to eight week time is when lots of patients start to say they're experiencing more aches and pains.

As well as the breathing and walking exercises, some hospitals recommend gentle shoulder and arm exercises to regain mobility. If you think that may help you then you can read about them in this NHS leaflet,

uhs.nhs.uk/Media/UHS-websit...

Good luck!

Triheart profile image
Triheart in reply to Chappychap

Thank you, I’ll have a look at those exercises 😊

You may also like...

Lifelong chest aches & pains?

14months post heart bypass and have had, given the difficulties accessing post-op rehab due to Covid

Chest pain/aches

Hi I’m new here, A few weeks ago wile I was trying to sleep I experienced a very sharp stabbing pain

Heart attack and aching chest

Is it normal that when I talk a lot I get aching in my chest and throat feels sore. Has anyone else...

Ache across chest

Hi everyone, this is my first post. I had a cardiac stent done 4 weeks ago, I repeatedly return to...

Aches in chest after heart attack

I am 4 weeks post heart attack and experiencing aches in my chest, not painful but wondering if this