Bypass 4 months ago - just got chest and shoulder aches

[OldaYoda]

I had a triple bypass 4the September, recovery going well. Back to work and done all the rehab. Over the weekend I havedeveloped aches and pains across whole chest and in shoulders. Its not angina pain, it doesn't ease with rest, or come on with exercise, its more musco-skeletal feeling. I pretty much do everything i used to do - I am wondering if I have overdone things over the holidays, or if anyone else has had aches like this come on after a period of feeling fine? I have had Norovirus recently - could that be it?

Any comments, insights would help. If they don't fade away I will see GP later in the week.

Thanks all

[Traveldreams]

I know that I’m not alone in getting terrible shoulder and upper arm pain following ohs. Mine started after I went back to work full time. I assume suddenly reusing muscles that had been resting, although I had done all of my cardio rehab exercises. I didn’t see GP for 4 months ( work in a school so waited for the holidays) and had an ultrasound which diagnosed frozen shoulder and bursitis. Started in my left shoulder. Just before Christmas I started with the same feeling in my right shoulder. Sleeping is painful and so is getting a coat on and off.

If in doubt get it checked out. X

[Redfloyd]

Just wondering what type of work you do. I'm 61, had a valve replacement and bypass September 25th and I have been signed off until the end of March. Recovery is okay except I seem to pick up every bug virus think going. Heartwise I'm fine but I don't think I could go back to work yet. I've had the chest pain thing, mainly from coughing and sneezing but I just put it down to the muscles recovering.

[Womble3]

I had a triple bypass in January and if I over do it do get pains I sit down and rest

I am 80 so probably a bit older

[DWizza]

I had quadruple bypass surgery following nstemi heart attack July 2023. I had ache in my back for about 6-8 months , it seemed to take ages to get better. My sternum also felt a bit tender after working round our farm, chainsawing , using loppers , barrowing , carrying feed sacks , hay bales etc . Fast forward to the last couple of weeks and I still feel it in my sternum area after swimming and yoga . It’s not painful just a sensation . My surgeon said it would take a year or for my chest /sternum to knit back . He said thst they could see that I kept fit and string ad there was a lot of healthy bone and chest muscle to cut through , which meant a longer healing time , particularly for nerves to knit back.

[OldaYoda]

thanks for the replies, everyone. I’m less worried now - but if this ache persists will get to GP.

[OK10]

I notice that cold weather increases the pain as well.

[OK10]

I had my op on the 3rd september but i am still getting chest pains on my left, which seems to get worse in the cold although our home is warm. How is your blood pressure? Mine is fluctuating. Thanks.

[OldaYoda in reply to OK10]

Actually that's a good point, definitely worse in cold. I have noticed it gets worse if I overdo things, but also its not good if i don't do anything. Getting back on my rehab exercsise programme has definitely helped. I am pretty sure they do unspeakable things to our body during the op that take significant time to get over - just because the scars are healed over doesn't mean we are back to normal. However at 4.5 months I am happy to say I feel better than I did before the bypass, and improvement is continuing.

[healthquestions24]

I started to get chest pains on left side around 6 months after quad bypass, especially sudden movements and rotation. Concerned about it enough to go to see cardiologist. Had xray and nothing sinister found. Explained to me that this type of pain was very common and can persist over a year after the operation mainly due to nerve damage and regrowth. It's a big operation with lots of things cut and reconnected. It did indeed fade away after 12 months. I still get the odd pain here and there after 2 years, but it's more or less fine (as fine as we can be after being cut open at the sternum!) Hope this helps. Best wishes and good luck.