exercises for your donor arm

[JHeartValve]

I had a new aortic valve and two CABGs four weeks ago. One of the grafts was taken from my forearm.

Any tips on exercises for the donor arm? I’ve been absent mindedly playing with some play dough this afternoon and it’s a bit sore now.

How have the rest of you got some strength back or did you wait for cardiac rehab?

Also want to say thanks to those of you who replied towards the end of last year when I was getting a bit low with the long wait for surgery. Op on 23rd December, home on 29th, recovery going well (apart from the weather) and all much better than anticipated!

[goldenbay]

Hi I’m so glad everything is going well for you. I had a double bypass 21 years ago and my radial artery was harvested from my left arm. I had a large wound which was stapled. I can’t remember being given any advice to exercise the donor arm. It healed as a wound heals, no exercise required. It has never been weak. The wound needs to heal not be exercised. Wait until your rehab but once the wound has healed you can use the arm normally.

[JHeartValve in reply to goldenbay]

thanks

[CyclingTime]

Mine came back just through normal use, I do some light weights now but nothing to mad

One thing I would say is one year on where they took the graft down near my wrist it has made the tendons near that point up through the fleshy pad before my thumb very tight. Consultant says there is nothing they would do for that and to seek some physio for it

[JHeartValve in reply to CyclingTime]

thanks, hope you get some physio, this feels like you’ve described so shall be talking to the physios when I start cardiac rehab next week

[El-Tel1990]

2 years on !

Radial artery used in CABG