Stiff neck post OHS

[witchcraft]

On the 10th-11th September I had a sternumectomy (as used in bypass surgery) for an aortic dissection repair and had my aortic valve replaced. I'm really on the way back now and feel fantastic and am back to 50 min, 5.5km walks and even gentle running. My chest is pretty much painless too and only aches a little after particularly busy days.

The only tiny fly in the ointment is the right-side of my neck has felt really stiff/sore since the operation with no improvement. Frankly I'm very glad simply to be here but is this something others have experienced? and if so was there a fix?

[ParrotLover22]

Hi. I had the same problem after my Bypass Surgery. I had a very stiff neck and painful shoulders. My Doctor gave me Fenbid Gel which worked. He said it was ALL Muscular after the Op. Thankfully, it's gone now though. Have a Word with your Doctor/Consultant. It does go though!

[witchcraft in reply to ParrotLover22]

Thanks that is exactly what I wanted to hear!

[Blackcatsooty]

me too. Very grateful that those fantastic cardiac staff saved my life. But yes I get a pain in my neck. Probably due to the need to pull our bodies around during the op.

Wife said I am always a pain in the neck.

Sooty

[Jako999]

I’m 5 months post op and I still have some pain in the left side of my neck but then as others have said I’m just glad to be alive. I’ve seen parts of this op and trust me it’s no wonder your body hurts after what they do to it.

Hope your better soon.

[LaceyLady]

have you a bump/s either side of the collar bone? This is the sternoclavical joint/s I have had head, neck and collarbone pain since April. My osteopath thinks I have over stretched the Sternocleidomastoid muscle which gives pain in neck and back I’d the skull. This is likely through the ‘rugby’ type falls I’ve had 🤣 No I don’t play

[MarmiteB]

oh I had the same! It was so bad that at the age of 35 I put my head on my mums lap and she stroked my head like I was a kid again 😂 it’s completely gone now, I’m nearly 10months post op. Shoulders and neck gave me way more jip than my sternum.

[Chappychap]

There are a couple of videos on-line that show open heart surgery. They re absolutely not for the faint hearted, but beyond the gore they show just how traumatic the surgery really is. To give the surgeon access the rib cage is forced apart far more then it ever would with even the very deepest breathing. Likewise arms are pushed back and shoulders twisted.

The point is this, with this treatment it's absolutely no surprise that we have aches and pains, but the body will heal itself and these temporary discomforts will pass.

It sounds like you have exactly the winning attitude, look on the positive side and get stuck in to a much healthier life style. Good for you, your risk of future heart incidents are dramatically lowered by your actions.

Good luck!

[BicuspidBloke]

I had, and still have to some degree, a similar issue but only to my left side. I did loads of walking around ICU from when I first came round after surgery (August). And doing shed loads of stuff now. But the turns & tilts to my left are still not right. Oh, and the noises in my neck & ears! I put it down to just walking in ICU and the ward. My neck & upper body should have received more attention from the rehab physio but I was fit & fine so left to my own devices. I had a neck cannulae in for 6 or 7 days so holding my head 'funny' won't have helped. But it's much better than three months ago so keep doing the exercises.

[cjbroon]

I had my Aorta repaired via open heart surgery back in April 2019 via a by pass machine. Like yourself I had terrible neck and shoulder pain for a while and no pain at my chest wound.Speaking to my surgeon he said it was due to the position they had me lying in theatre and the length of time I was in that position for,around 10 hours in theatre, and then lying at slight angle in ICU with a breathing tube in that causes the pain in the neck in shoulder muscles.

I was in hospital a month so they gave me painkillers and the hospital physio came back in and gave me bit of help with things. That really helped clear the pain and stiffness.

[witchcraft]

Thanks that is really helpful!