Sternum

[AH31]

I am nearly seven weeks into my OHS.

Has anyone else had pain in the ribs, bottom of sternum and breast bone in the evenings? It has gone away a week ago but now come back and feels uncomfortable.

I am guessing I am busy during the day and maybe it’s my body’s way of saying I’m still trying to fuse back together.

[davebal67]

It takes months and even years. I had pain in one of my ribs comparable to a fracture after 6 weeks. I couldn't lie on both sides as the LHS was to painfull. I have had a CT after 8 months and my Sternum is still not fully healed between 80/90% currently. The difference between 3 and 8 months is incredible. The 12 week given by the NHS is a lie. What they mean you can function but it's not pain free or fully healed. I stopped painkillers at the end of 5 months.

[devonian186]

Perhaps you are trying to do too much. I took paracetamol for 8 weeks after surgery and then suddenly found I didnt need it any more at that point. I certainly wouldn't say that I was busy during the day but trying to take it easy and work up to improving my walking distances and starting to think about driving again

[Seal59]

I’m not medically qualified but from my husband’s recovery 7 weeks is still very early for the major surgery you have been through. When you are tired ( at the end of the day) you feel these things more). I noticed changes in his recovery at 3 months , 6 months and a full year to be 100%.

[Bruce67]

I am just over 3 months after my OHS and getting plenty of pain in my chest..told it was muscular at first and now told it's nerve damage! Paracetamol every four hours doesn't always help but told to keep on it as no long term harm to me....some days pain is mild others, far from it. I get pains sat still it moving about or doing things so feel unsure what it really is and what triggers worst of it 🤔

[AH31 in reply to Bruce67]

Sounds like what my days are like.

Some are good and it’s disappeared and other days a lot of discomfort and burning pain in the rib area.

[Markp7119]

yes it is normal I had OHS CABG x 4 in 2021 and still have some sternum pain occasionally it will improve as you are early days take care

[Mitchum]

I answered your last post which was similar. You shouldn't be "busy during the day"! You probably shouldn't be driving either, irrespective of the guide lines. You need to accept the pain and discomfort as it's perfectly normal and you'll take many months to achieve normality, if ever! Again, take it easy.

[Traveldreams]

I agree with the previous replies. 9 weeks in, some days barely noticeable and then the next agony.

I still can’t get comfortable at night. Start propped up. Change about half way through to lying down. Can’t lie in my side yet.

I’m the same in that rest definitely makes it worse. I think your posture is better when you’re up and about and you don’t feel it. Some days mine is like when you’re first pregnant and you get the continuous breast ache and tenderness which I guess is the nerves and others a real shooting pain which I’m assuming is more bone/muscle.

Nervous about returning to work and how I will manage. Think I saw the magic 8-12 weeks recovery and thought it would feel normal by then. Also sternum scar feels almost puckered when I first get up, tight and sore but as soon as I’ve been moving for 5 or 10 minutes it’s fine.

Thanks for posting this because it’s really true for me too.

[CyclingTime]

Really common and you will still get twinges for a long time yet. It's major surgery so full recovery can take quite a long time.So nothing to worry about but just minimise any heavy lifting etc until you hit twelve weeks

[Wingnutty]

This is quite different to the area than what you are having a problem with, but I had pain just below my throat at the front whenever I tilted my head back as if I was looking up at the sky. The pain was relieved by lowering my head to the forward position. I am convinced this was one of the sternal wires right at the top of the sternum. I thought it must be an edge of it connecting with soft tissue as I moved my head back. That is what it felt like. It did get easier though and after about 6 months it went completely. I hope yours goes the same way.