Post surgical stretching

[Wizard_of_Oz]

I am now 2 weeks post open heart surgery for AVR. I have read on this site NOT to raise my arms above shoulder height as part of cardiac rehab, yet US hospital sites do recommend raising an arm alternatively over head to keep shoulders etc moving. Thoughts pls? I am starting to ache in my neck and shoulder blades and want to be able to stretch safely, what do you recommend pls?

[Hidden]

Hi

You can move your shoulders without raising your arms above your head by rotating them. Strongly suggest you keep to what the guidelines are here.

My worst pain by half was shoulder blades. It was excruciating and so difficult to get comfortable. Feeling a constant need to stretch but can’t is frustrating. Take your painkillers and don’t be afraid of them. You need them now. I used hot water bottles and wheat bags on back of my neck and shoulders. Mind you it was February and colder!!

When you consider what was done to you during surgery, it’s not surprising that your shoulders ache. Over a year on and I still haven’t had the nerve to watch OHS on vids! Probably never will as it’s in the distant past now! Recovery is a slow process. Don’t rush it. Honestly it gets better day by day and no faster. Very soon you will see changes for the better. Keep strong and be kind to yourself

Maisie

[080311]

You should have been given shoulder exercises to do by your physios in hospital. Really they are just shoulder rolls first one way and then the other.Along with moving your head from side to side. Remember we are put in some very extreme positions on the table!

Not lifting your arms above your head is to save pressure on your sternum until it’s fully healed. Even though we are wired together it’s still not strong enough to take a lot of strain. You don’t want those wires to slip! And have to be re wired!

Things do get easier, just slowly does it.

Best wishes Pauline

[Cornishbeach]

HiI am now 3 1/2 weeks post mitral valve repair. Shoulder shrugs and rotation really helped. I had a frozen shoulder last year so knew how much these had helped then. If you wake up in the night sit up and so some more, and do them regularly during the day. I was actually able to sleep on my side for the first time last night and ditched the pillow under my knees finally. I'm going to attempt to ditch the wedge cushion tonight as I have been waking up halfway down the bed the last few nights! Pre op I would sleep with my arms above my head (right arm always, left not so much since frozen shoulder) - in the past few mornings I have woken up with my arms above my head without any discomfort. I reckon if it hurts its not right - so don't do it. The new advice is keep your movements in a tube so listen to your body and keep your movement close to your body . The discomfort has definitely improved in the past week. I still take one dihydrocodeine and 2 paracetamol at night but don't need anything during the day. I'm walking a good 30 minutes each day (being tempted with lunch out to get out of the house) - 15 minutes walk to the cafe and then 15 minutes back.

You will get there - the change day to day is incredible!

Best wishes for your recovery.

[Rogo23]

Hi wizard.Speaking as a person who was a bit of a idiot, and did some stretching, and a inadvertent opening of a car door, don't strech, seriously don't.

In my case healing nicely 4 weeks after a cabgx4,and I opened the door of my wife's car with one hand, and wound up with a slightly clicky sternum, followed by another 4weeks sleaping in a arm chair, that did correct the self inflicted

idiocy but I wound up spending two months in a chair instead of my bed, next to my wife.

You can do shoulder rolls to ease the pain, but some patience now will be a benefit for the rest of your life,use painkillers as nesecerry and give it until you see your surgeon for the follow up consult. But you are still very early in the'knitting' process.

Good luck and stick it out, it's worth it.

Dan.👍