I would love to hear about people’s experience of how their sternum / chest recovery has gone following OHS.
Im 5 weeks post op and have been experiencing new sensations from time to time over the past 5 weeks. I think they are all part of the recovery… l think I’m getting more ‘feeling’ back as I can feel more tenderness and bruising especially at the very top of my sternum and into my neck. It looks a little red this morning too.
I am catching myself tensing the left side and I try to consciously relax.
I think recovery in general is going well… walking a couple of times a day for around an hour each time as well as pottering around the house and having short trips out for coffee and lunch etc.
I’m keen to hear of others experiences.
thanks for taking the time to read!
Written by
LaLa58
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Hi Lala,I too am 5 weeks post CABGx3 and am still struggling a bit to be honest.
I have a really bad sunburn sensation in the left hand side of my chest, which I went back to the hospital about. Was given medication (yes more) but hasn't really helped. It's nerve damage from the surgery, which is just going to take time to heal.
I've now developed a real shortness of breath and it's painful in my left middle back when I intake breath, which I think is the start of a chest infection.
Sounds like I'm a right drama queen doesn't it??
Hey!! Just bumps in the road I guess and I'm here! Smile or even laugh and give your loved ones a hug. We will get better!
Thanks for taking the time to reply. I experienced chest pains on breathing in too a week or so back… it was quite uncomfortable for a couple of days and disappeared as suddenly as it came on! I get pain in my back too, usually following a walk.
But if I look back three weeks I can see how far I’ve come. Like you say… a bump in the road to recovery!
Good luck with your continued recovery! This will all be a distant memory in a couple of months!
I slept sitting up, propped by five pillows around me plus a Teddy under my knees.
I only walked once a day for the first two months, talking as I walked.
I know it’s easier for us males. But I had no issue with the chest scar. In fact I didn’t have any bother with my general recovery. After three months I was well and truly recovered, what a super feeling….deaths door to pottering in my garden.
Sounds about par for the course. I’m still getting the odd twinge at 6 months, but it’s been a pretty steady decrease in noticeability for the last 3 months.
Had my OHS almost 4 years ago now but I definitely remember twinges and pains for at least 5 to 6 months as everything heals and knits back together. Wishing you a steady and continuous recovery….
Hi Lala,I'm now 66, 2 years + 1 month post OHS, with a pale silvery thread of a scar, and the occasional itch at the top of my sternum where the bones join. It does ache a bit if I'm doing something strenuous like sweeping the garden path.
I used a triangular pillow when I had to sleep propped up, and wore post-surgery front zip-fastening bras from M+S night and day for about 3 months - they aren't very stylish, but were very reassuring -nothing moved! Boots make a surgery scar repair cream - works like bio oil, and I used that from 12 weeks post-surgery for about 6 months. I'm very proud of my scar - it saved my life. I do most things now that I did before, but I'm careful not to lift things that are too heavy.
Go steady; try to do a bit more every couple of days, and rest when you need to - I get tired more quickly now, but I feel I've recovered really well. You'll get there!
Hi I had my ohs a year ago march 28th and completely pain and ache free after 6 months. Don't be a hero in the early stages believe me you will pay for it !! Just winding a garden hose back onto the reel on the wall left me in agony for weeks. Also sleep can be a problem because painful to sleep on you're side...you will get sensations and aches with the healing process it's natural but week by week it improves...Good luck and within 6 months if you take care you will be completely free of discomfort and sensations.
Thanks for the advice… I haven’t done very much other than walking and preparing dinners… I’m very mindful of not running before I can walk as I don’t want to delay the recovery.
all sounds very normal. I’m 2 years post surgery, and no issues now with scar site. I remember the sunburn feeling, I remember odd chest pains I also remember being able to ‘bounce’ the wires in my chest with finger, whilst they were bedding in. Another strange sensation to look out for is a random sharp intake of breath which I believe to be a spasm… this too settles in time. I used bio oil twice daily once scar had healed, and I believe it helped to stop keloids developing, you’d barely notice the scar now. Good luck on your journey.
Hiya sounds like you are doing brilliantly! Much better than I did. I think it's good to accept that it can take a while and is a slow and changing healing process. Best wishes
Random stranger here with no relevant experience. Just wanted to say to you all how lovely it is to see so many positive and mainly encouraging posts. They must be a huge comfort to people who have just undergone or just about to have this kind of procedure.That's what I love about this forum. Best wishes to you all of you in your journey!
So I had my double bypass (CABG x 2) on the 26/02 and I’m 53 (age will be a factor on recovery).
I have a few twinges now and again in my chest but at this stage very little discomfort. I have measured my recovery in the pain when you sneeze 😳I believe it gives you quite a good indication of your sternum status and at this stage I’ve very little compared to when I was discaharged, sneezing and coughing was horrendous. If that was one piece of advice I’d give anyone is stay away from anyone with a cold for the first 4 weeks after leaving hospital.
I’m walking 40 mins a day at a steady pace.
I’m no expert but at the fabulous Royal Stoke they said listen to your body and stick to the advice, I’m just awaiting dates for the rehabilitation service so basically stick to the guidelines and I’m seeing my surgeon next Thursday (he was also fantastic).
Hi! I know what you mean about sneezing and coughing! That has definitely got less painful! I’m quite a rule bound person so I have followed the advice - although my arms may have crept outside of the tube, but not weight bearing!
I’m seeing my surgeon on Monday… I’ve got a list of questions 😊. I’m hoping he can reassure me that my sternum is healing well and I’m on the right track!
I'm 9 months post OHS. It took me nearly 6 months before I was happy lying on my left side. Try to do the chest exercises - just lifting your arms out to the sides and in front. Standing thinking about keeping your shoulders down and back ( don't push too hard) I got a book with all these when I left hospital but I think the BHS website has these exercises) I think one tends to hunch and this should help back pain . Also if you can get on a cardio rehab course . I can't over-emphasize how good this was for me giving me confidence in what you can do while making sure you don't do too much.
Thanks so much for replying. I’ve got a telephone assessment with the cardiac nurse on Friday. I’m eager to go to cardiac rehab as I was a keen gym goer prior to my heart attack and confidence to return to exercise safely is a priority.
I had a delayed recovery because I reacted badly to drugs ; you don't seem to have suffered so you should be quicker. You seem to be doing well. I am now back doing a warm up of 2k rowing in 11mins in the gym and was back skiff rowing over a month ago. In the gym I've dropped weights for shoulder and chest exercises and am careful about machines which press on my chest. But that's me being careful.
Bit of a pause at present 'cos I've had cataract surgery .
you are doing the right thing moving around , Aldo I would advise joining a cardiac rehabilitation course at the gym , your doctor can refer you and you should get discounted fee .
I’m a year post op now and only noticeable scar is my sternum and some itching and soreness still but bio oil helps . I see a dermatologist and have injections in my scarring as I have a keyloid scarring but if you don’t have that the scar will eventually fade away . Certainly the ones on my legs did .
Just keep moving and filling the cardiac team’s advice and I’m sure you will make a good recovery.
I’m 69 and had a quadruple bypass and a year on I do the gym one a week swim and do cardio circuits once a week and walk in between .
Wow! You are doing amazingly well! This is reassuring to hear. I’m hoping to start cardiac rehab as soon as I’m cleared to do so, although I do know there is a bit of a waiting list.
In the meantime the British heart foundation have a level one exercise class you can do at home , very simple and gentle but it helps . Just google it . Good luck xx
I’m six weeks post op. Feel like I’ve recovered well. I’d say 2 one hour walks a day is really impressive! I’m doing about 30 mins with no breathing problems. I’m very aware of overdoing doing it. Pottering in the house is ok but not really going anywhere yet. Went to the pub for the first time this week to meet friends. Only had a couple of pints. Beer (actually most alcohol) had tasted very metallic so haven’t bothered up to now. Got my first gig (seated) tonight which feels like a big step back. We go to lots of live gigs.
Found it very hard sleeping on my back but now over that bit. Started recuperation classes this week - twice a week for 8 weeks.
Still feel tired sometimes and a bit blue occasionally but feel like it’s good progress. Cardiac nurse told me that some people are still in pyjamas at 4 weeks.
Surgeon signed me of last week and have two appointments at hospital next week. One to have Echo and then hopefully one to get signed off by cardiologist. Reducing medication and pain killers too.
Thanks so much Arthur. Sounds like things are moving along for you at a good pace. Impressive that you are going to a gig! I’m due to meet a friend in London next weekend but I’m nervous about going… it’s a confidence thing I know… I don’t like the underground at the best of times and the thought of the possibility of getting bumped in the chest is putting me off… I get tired too sometimes and I don’t want to push my luck - although doing something ‘normal’ would be lovely.
I am 5yrs on from triple bypass and the scar is still quite red & pronounced for some reason, it does happen I am advised. It is normal skin colour and flat in a couple of patches. But I still find it quite sensitive to the touch or press.
So interesting to read this thread as my husband has a CT scan today to determine whether he has a bicuspid valve ( OHS ) or a tricuspid valve ( TAVI) that needs replacing. He is terrified of surgery and the recovery time!!
Hi! I hope what you’ve read has been reassuring. The surgeons do this for a living they are very skilled at what they do… the recovery hasn’t been nearly as scary as I thought it would be… positive mindset and taking advice from the professionals is key! I wish your husband all the best!
will agree with other comments sounds par for the course
Just over 9 weeks post op, scar on chest still red but leg wound healed really well in fact has faded from knee down.
I have a numb feeling in my chest and if it I get some discomfort its at the top chest and it’s like a pinching sensation and occurs more now when I move in bed.
Have started to move off my back in bed and find sleeping on my right works also started to ease some of the aches I was experiencing in my shoulders.
Like yourself and I think this is one of the keys to a speedy recovery I was in the gym and was fairly fit having my op ( I’m 67) and the other was a positive attitude especially again after the procedure.
I have seen my rehab nurse at 6 weeks who cleared me to drive and fly and referred to the physio team who I saw a week later and are they are not referring me for the cardio rehab programme a number of reasons I scored six and half on the beep test and again because I’ve been walking and covering 4 to 5 miles a time including hills they don’t believe I’ll benefit and one of the main reasons they told me people are referred is for their mental health and to build confidence, I come back to the positive attitude.
I’m meeting them again this coming Monday to complete another beep test which I’m confident of improving on the last result and to cover a routine and develop my own personal rehab programme so I can go to my own gym and workout.
As I always say everyone is going through a different journey although I had complications during my surgery and spent 4 days in isolation in ICU I was determined to get out of hospital asap it was the catalyst to kick my butt and spur me onto a speedy recovery barring any complications which apart from a chest infection I’ve been fine.
The way I put it on another post I was able to get on the motorway to recovery, some people only got on a country road and have a long way to travel before they even reach an A road.
Good luck on your journey and I hope you get onto the right road for you.
I truly believe a positive mind set is crucial to recovery, some others I have seen in hospital with the same are going to have a very long road to travel due to their attitude.
I do have a positive mindset and the over riding feeling / emotion I have is one of gratefulness . Grateful for being in the right place at the right time and for having an incredible team of medical professionals to fix me swiftly!
I’m also walking a lot… but no hills as yet (I live in Essex!). I have the ‘pre-rehab’ questionnaire and can see it is geared towards mental health… I’m interested in the ‘bleep test’ do you run? I would like to get some confidence to ‘push’ myself in the gym though.
Thanks again and I hope you continue to go from strength to strength x
The beep test is down at a walking pace, they start you at a relatively slow and build it up as the beeps get quicker and then ask you your name address and mobile to assess your response based on a scale and monitor your heart rate.
I'm coming up to 2 years since cabg & it sounds like you're doing great! I had twinges for a few months following surgery & put it down to everything knitting together again. I began to relax more as I realised it was normal to experience these feelings from talking to others on this site. If you're worried you can always call the bhf nurses for advice/reassurance. Wishing you the very best in your continuing recovery x
My brother was in a car accident and broke his sternum he took about 5 months to repair, then he had a massive heart attack with his heart damaged so much that he required a heart transplant asap. This requires the sternum to be broken again !!!. He thank God still lives today after 2 years after surgery and his sternum took a while to repair but it's fine now and not any problems 🙏 😊. Now living the dream❤️🩹❤️🙂
Well it was just about healing after 22 years ( 1994- 2016) but then had 2nd surgery so never healed ! Get as much physio as soon as, when you can . My upper left arm muscles are so redundant now as I just naturally use my left arm and shoulder ..
My ohs was Oct 24. I am still sore, on a good day I forget and do a bit too much and I pay the price for it. My sternum is still constantly sore at the top, it's the taking the longest to heal. I may be have took a little longer to heal, I had pericarditis 5 weeks after the surgery. I was admitted 3 times upto December with very high inflamation markers I had fluid round my heart with the pericarditis. I then had pneumonia. A rough few weeks apart from the sternum still sore, I'm fine. My friend said you don't feel yourself for at least 12 months regarding aches and pains. Just don't over do it and you'll be fine. Listen to your body. If I hadn't questioned my pain. I would never have known I had a problem. Take care.
I think you're probably on the cusp of seeing that soreness at the top of your breastbone start to resolve. My surgery was Sept 17, and mine has mostly gone away just in the last month.
I was sleeping propped up until3 weeks.i knew it was healed after about 8 but training the brain to allow a flat sleep was difficult! Mental takes longer than physical. Staying level on the back, propped up even was what I was told. It just takes time, but give it time and now I wasn’t even thinking about it .
hi I had ohs in January this year I’m healing well it just takes time I can do most things now but I do take care as it can be sensitive sometimes I haven’t put any creams on yet as I’m not sure about that but take care x
I had OHS to repair a leak in my mitral valve last April, 11 months ago. I have to say that my recovery was much better and quicker than I expected. I’m 65 and have always been fit and active, which I believe helped with my recovery. I had some stiffness for a few weeks and avoided heavy lifting but I had very little pain. I stuck religiously to my cardiac rehabilitation exercises and stretches and I enjoyed the community cardiac rehabilitation programme. I returned to the gym last September, around 4 months after my surgery and soon returned to my normal weight training regime. Everything is well healed now and you can barely see my sternotomy scar, although this is probably helped by the fact that I have a little chest hair.
All that said, I did experience nerve pain and weakness in my left shoulder and arm, which took around 6-8 weeks to resolve. I was told that such nerve pain isn’t uncommon following OHS due to pinching and stretching of nerves during surgery.
In my wifes case, the pain was prolonged and was regularly with paracetamol and other pain killers, for a good couple of months. Also had to sleep in fixed a position on her back.
She has diabetes for several years, the bypass op was successful. She was doing fine and then came covid, this meant all rehab classes were cancelled and we had to do things at home during which time her kidneys stopped working! She absolutely hated being on dialysis, she died 2 years ago...
I'm 72, male, 21 months post surgery here. My pecs took a long time to recover, about 18 months before soreness really died down but I was able, within 9 months or so, to do chin ups on a bar without discomfort so it is quite odd in a way. I wonder if it is a bit of nerve damage from surgery. Mind you my chest gets ever so itchy either side of the scar nowadays, dry skin it seems so I keep moisturiser to hand.
I was walking pretty much from the week I got home and within a fortnight I was outpacing my other half, she cannot keep up with me any more, I have to really slow my walking pace when we are together! I started jogging from about 3 to 4 weeks post surgery interspersed with walking and can now run/jog 5km without stopping.
I cannot stress too strongly how helpful I found rehab physio. I did 9 weeks free (Phase 3) and, luckily, phase 4 is available where I live. There is a small fee but it has given me a massive lift in my confidence in my physical fitness as it allows me to work relatively hard in a very controlled HIIT environment. I've taken up parkrun (5km/3.1 miles) after my surgery, never been a runner before ...
My partner had his 3rd OHS for his aortic valve in December. He feels his recovery is much better this time and now only gets a bit of back pain. When you consider what they do to your body just to get to the heart its no wonder it takes a while for everything to heal inside. The nerves and muscles have all been stretched and have to heal. He has been having cardio rehab for the last 6 weeks and the improvement has been amazing both physically and mentally. Have you been put on the list for rehab, it really does give you the confidence to understand and move on?
My experience was pretty positive overall, takes a little while to get used to what you can & can’t do but you get there in the end. You’re doing very well with the exercise, I’m two years post surgery now and all good
Nearly 10 months in from CABGx3 now, and the nerve damage I suffered in my chest is gradually receding. It flares up a little now and again, but not so much that it stops me from doing anything. The chest scar has never been itchy, I'm not sure it will ever be anywhere near invisible, but it is what it is. I have no concerns about it visually. It's just a bit amusing being able to feel the wire, though.
One problem I have had is that the bottom of my sternum catches on things internally if I bend forward in a particular way, but I got it checked out by the surgeons and they said it wasn't going to cause any issues and they could just nip the end off if it got too concerning. I'm in no rush for another procedure just yet, no matter how small, so I am going to go on developing my pecs and abs back to where they were pre-op and see if that resolves it.
What is love is when a small increase in activity starts to have a lasting positive effect rather than just making me more tired. I swim 5K a week, do light weights, situps, use resistance bands and go to level 4 cardiac rehab classes. TBH, having done some extra DIY this week, I think I may have overdone it just a tad, so will be taking it a little easy this weekend!
I’m only walking at the moment but when I increase the distance and / or speed for the first time I do feel tired… I increased to 7km today… I’m tired!! But I know I’m a couple of days I’ll be finding it a little easier!
Small wins indeed! For a lot of hearties, recovery is not linear. That is there are ups and downs along the way, particularly tiredness. But you shouldn't get thrown by this, and from what you have said, it doesn't seem like you will. For me, 12 weeks was an important milestone as your sternum is fused by then and, whether it is psychological or not, you start to feel more confident. All the best for your ongoing recovery and never feel you can't ask questions on here, there's no such thing as a silly question!
Hi I’m now 6 months post op and feeling good other than tiredness at times . I had my follow up at 8 weeks with the surgeon including ECG and a chest X-ray . I was told my sternum had healed and to go back to exercising carefully . I have to say I had very little pain after surgery other than about a week of tightness across the chest breathing deeply and sleeping on my side at night which passed quite quickly . I had my 70th birthday 3 days after the op and was reasonably fit prior to going into hospital
That sensation is nerve damage it gets worse when cold and i still have it 14 months down the line its where they graft the mammary artuary to use in your by pass . You are doing great with your walking I struggled to do that much that early but like i say 14 mths down the line I am back at work working as hard as i did before as a landscaper small steps and liisten to your body .If you have the chance of Cardio Rehab grab it with both hands it is really beneficial to your Recovery ..
I am in my tenth week since OPH for a replacement mitral valve on 14th January at Barts Hospital, London. I was home after a week and had my first rehab session last week. Yesterday I walked 13000 steps and then went to a wine tasting in the evening with no ill-effects. I was careful how much wine I did drink. My scar is healing well and I have little chest pain now when I cough or laugh; I am hardly breathless when I go upstairs one flight but am still breathless a bit when walking uphill or trying to keep up with a young person on the flat! I was having periods of tiredness but that seems to have gone away in the past week; I still seem to wake in the early hours and not have a constant sleep thereafter. I am still not vacuuming or lifting the clothes rack back up to the ceiling! I was able to sleep on my side soon after coming home. Hope these notes help you; just keep positive
I’m currently 9&1/2 weeks post AVR & root enlargement-just had my post op consultation with my surgeon, during which he put to rest all my queries about odd twinges, random pain and the like.
Basically, the sternum is expected to be fully healed by 12 weeks, but nerves can take much longer -potentially months-to recover from the trauma they’ve been through during the open heart procedure, so I can expect these little twinges and messages from the nervous system as it repairs itself.
I had the ‘almost pins snd needles’ on the outside of one thigh: it’s called meralgia parasthetica, a known post op symptom, again due to nerve disturbances.
hello LaLa, my operation is 5 years ago, but from what I recall my sternum healed very well and I never experienced any unusual symptoms. Be patient, it will take time to get back to normal. Have you had a referral for cardiovascular rehab? I found it to be a great help . Kind regards
It is a little over 6 months from my own OHS. My recovery has been steady and I can now do most everything I want to, down to vigorous work on my allotment. I don’t walk for exercise much but there again I never did, my artificial hips being a factor in that. Regarding the chest itself, the bruising and the lumps faded away but I still get discomfort from the scar, if only that part below the sternum. Also I have never since the OHS slept on my left side. Otherwise, there are no issues now. Earlier on there were, I remember vividly the agony caused by sneezing and I regretted for days sweeping the yard too soon in my recovery journey. I have still not tried hoovering, but I never did that before anyway. Get/stay active, attend your cardiac rehabilitation classes and most of all enjoy the new life OHS can offer you. This month I have been to 3 rugby matches; 6 football matches; two restaurants; the cinema; the theatre; a lecture; and a museum as well as the many hours at the allotment and spent enjoying my grandchildren. I also work a little part-time. In short, I am now leading a full and active life in my mid-70s not unconnected with my massively increased energy levels from having had OHS to replace my stenotic aortic valve.
Just seven years since my OHS and the stitches below the skin over the sternum, the top being the very worst spot and to be quite frank, can really bring tears to the eyes. There is slight numbness over the skin of my left breast tissue which is just about everything above the waist. The very bottom of the calf, above the ankle has a rather tender area where they stripped out the vein used during the procedure and to be truthful that's about it. Not bat eh? Of course there is the constant pill popping and the ever present aches and pains, but hey ho I am still here and am indebted to the surgical team that saved my life so a little discomfort now and again to me, just serves as a jog to be forever grateful to the men and women behind the scenes that have done so much for me and my wife. Good luck to you, you are without doubt, just at the recovery stage so far and hope it goes so well as it only leaves you with these niggles. 👍
Hi. When you think back to what the surgeon and their team did to you during surgery, these are all normal sensations. I’m exactly a year to the day since my CABG and my chest still feels weird, plus I get more than a twinge when I sneeze. I like my scar as it feels like a badge of honour compared to the alternative. Good luck with the onward recovery!
hi sounds like youve got this, I am just over 3 years in and i experienced a few little problems along the way, including shortness of breath I slept propped up for a few months
My walking was really good I built that up over a few months too, I walk about 4-5 miles 3 times a week and each day try and do a couple of shorter walks as I am still working 30 hours a week and find that I still get tired in the evening but do what I can to keep moving
We all repair differently good luck in your recovery journey x
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Clicking sensation in Sternum post CABG
Recovery after minimal invasive AVR
Sternum Healing!!
Sternum pain a year on 😐
Sternum 
