nerve damage to the neck following open heart surgery

[Cowans]

my husband had open heart surgery in June. He now has problems with his right hand and leg, we think a nerve may be trapped in his neck

Anyone else experienced this please

[CyclingTime]

I had mine done at the end of January. My left leg around the scar is still numb and tender to touch in places, it doesn't hurt only if you touch it.

I also had vein removed from my arm and the area near the wrist and the thumb pad is numb and still tender.

So yours sounds quite normal for now

[devonian186]

What do you mean by problems? Having a section of the chest that feels numb or a leg etc that feels the same where a vein has been taken for the operation is quite normal so you need to be more specific

[Cowans]

Hand and leg are extremely painful, becoming weak and lost muscle tone

[bridgeit]

Hello Cowans. I'm assuming "problems" = pain. If it's weakness, skip what follows and read the PS at the end.

I've not had open heart surgery. I have had neck surgery and the accessory nerve was apparently 'twinged' (their phrase) in the process, which means that I have neck/shoulder pains that subside only after certain exercises are carried out to a) stretch the accessory nerve (I think the correct term is 'flossing') and b) persuade my brain that it doesn't need to initiate pain as a response to perceived neck/shoulder nerve irritation.

As for leg pain, I had an invasive procedure to check out the integrity of veins in my neck/head which involved a catheter insertion through the groin. Again, if that process interferes with a nerve or nerves in the groin area, it can affect that leg. Although the cranial vein investigated was left-sided, the entry point for the catheter was right groin, so my twinges were right leg. There were a lot of twinges post-investigation for several months! They have subsided.

Your post suggests to me that your hubby may have had both a groin insertion as well as interference close to the accessory or other neck/shoulder nerve during surgery. I'm guessing; I have no medical training whatsoever.

Anyway, I have learned that pain is a complicated thing to understand; not as straightforward as I had imagined (injury=pain). Here's a website reference that offers some interesting pointers about how pain is generated (and managed):

tamethebeast.org/understanding

I have an excellent sheet of gentle exercises for de-compressing irritated nerves in the shoulder/arm/hand and improving neck and shoulder mobility that are safe and partly sitting/partly standing. The entire program takes 20 minutes, involving chin tucks, neck turns, stretching arms/hands up against a door and use of a cane with arms outstretched. I do these exercises every day. Unfortunately, I cannot find the web reference for you from which I sourced the sheet! However, I have seen many safe sites on the web that detail exercises for improving shoulder and neck mobility and thereby releasing irritated nerves, which helps soothe anything from neck/shoulder pain to painful/tingling/numb arms and hands on either or both sides. I recommend NHS sites, particularly post-surgical exercise advice for shoulders and neck. It worked for me.

Nerve tissue takes the longest time to heal if injured; up to 3 years the medics reckon. Make sure hubby is getting plenty of B vitamins and hydration to assist nerve recovery. Marmite is excellent!

To be fully effective, mobility exercises don't need to be punishing, they do need to be regular (daily).

PS. An NHS physiotherapist advised me that if there is any weakness in limbs that are painful/numb, it is necessary to consult a GP. Otherwise, exercise is good.

I hope your hubby is soon pain free.

[Cowans in reply to bridgeit]

thanks so much for this.

I’m just so concerned

[Qualipop in reply to bridgeit]

Ooh if you can ever find he details of those exercises, I would love them. I have the ulnar nerve getting trapped if I bend my arm during sleep. Physio only offered surgery.

[bridgeit in reply to Qualipop]

Hi Qualipop,

I finally located an old download of the document I use as my neck/shoulder exercise guide. It was written and published by Medstar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington DC. It's called "Exercises Following Neck Dissection A Guide for Patients and Families". I cannot however find any trace of this 12-page document on their website, nor can I upload my copy of it into this reply!

I'm sorry that I can't offer more for you.

[Qualipop in reply to bridgeit]

Well, thank you ever so much for trying. I'll have a look myself later.

[bridgeit]

I've just read your post about loss of muscle tone and weakness. My advice (not based on medical training but rather on life experience) is to immediately speak with your GP and the specialist nurse at the cardiology clinic. Loss of muscle tone/weakness needs investigation and assessment. Don't be fobbed off. Hubby should be examined, possibly by a neurologist, and you both need a solid reason why the loss of tone/weakness and pain is happening - and what to do about it.

Good luck!

[devonian186]

Excellent advice in the comments above. It seems sensible to spend an hour or two on the phone, with the intention to either get in front of your GP or to speak to your cardiology nurse-the latter is likely to have more knowledge and to be able to access the cardiologist who carried out the operation so that would be my preferred route.

It is obviously causing you anxiety and its best to get to the root cause rather than speculate

[Cowans]

thanks for all your comments, we’ve seen a number of consultants and thought the leg and hand were 2 separate problems

He had nerve tests yesterday who confirmed it’s all related, we need an MRI and to see a spine specialist. So, we’re ‘on it’!

It just frightened me. This is the second time for open heart surgery as the first time 5 years ago, the surgeon didn’t do it correctly. I just feel it’s never ending and wonder what the future holds.

Sorry to unburden myself on you guys but I’ve no where else to do it.

[bridgeit in reply to Cowans]

Don't ever fret about unburdening Cowans; I think that's what these forums are for.

You're doing the best you can. Take things one day at a time and avoid trying to predict the future, it can't be done. Whatever happens, you'll deal with it as and when, and very likely remarkably well.

I hope you soon get some sensible answers from the medics!