Sternotomy

[Lulet99]

Anyone who has had a sternotomy…. Were you told about “keep your move in the tube” ? (a way of ensuring you don’t move on the wrong way post surgery).

[Anon2023]

hi. I wasn’t after either of mine but I read about it on here. X

[Lulet99 in reply to Anon2023]

did you find it worked fot you?

[Anon2023 in reply to Lulet99]

by the time I read about it it was a bit too late

[Thanksnhs]

I have never heard that, as soon as I was out of ICU the physio had me up out of bed and walking but neither them or the nurses mentioned anything about moving the wrong way. Char

[Wingnutty]

No I don't know what you mean, but I certainly had pain with certain movements. for example ripping the top off a packet of cat food. When it got to the end of the tear and it ripped off, I would get a sudden jot of pain as my arms moved apart quickly, so I started using scissors to cut the top off. Another thing I noticed for about 3 months is that whenever I tilted my head backwards, I would get some pain inside, right at the top of the sternotomy. I think this was because it stretches the skin a bit at the front of your chest and possibly a sternal wire was catching on some soft tissue.

[Adhtz21]

no

[sung65]

Canadian Journal of Cardiologyonlinecjc.ca › fulltext

KEEP YOUR MOVE IN THE TUBE: BREAKING DOWN ...

[Rogo23]

One of the repeat offenders on my ward, well bay of four had heard about it from when he was getting over his first valve replacement. And he told us.It's one of several methods to get us to limit our moving about in the first few weeks. The tube is a imagery cylinder around the body that you are supposed to visualise, you have to keep your hands and arms inside the circumference.

Another is be a T Rex short stumpy arms can't reach out or up, or you can imagine that you have string ties to your belt again it's a visualisation tool.

Basically it's don't put your arms above your shoulders don't reach out with your full extension, don't lift anything heavier than a two pint bottle of milk.

The are also some things that may not seem obvious to be aware of,if you have any lights or other electrical fittings that use pull cords, get somebody to put a extension on them, another one (it is the one that caught me out) if you are being taken out for a ride in a car, DO NOT open the door yourself get someone else to do it. I didn't and got a bit clicky, luckily we figured out the problem and moved to sandy being the door opener.

Basically while we are encouraged to walk,in fact we are told walk or you won't get better, now do those miles,we are also encouraged not to do anything if possible with our arm's.

It's really really really frustrating but it is well worth it.

Good luck.

Dan 👍

[Cat04 in reply to Rogo23]

Excellent advice, spot on 😊