@cash298 I am so glad to read that you are exercising! I am surprised that you were denied cardio rehab, after all, you had heart surgery! Was it your insurance company that denied it? If so, it might help if your doctor can intervene with the professional opinion that it is essential to your full recovery. My Medicare Advantage Plan covered cardio rehab with no copay, so I am truly surprised to read that you were denied that important post-op activity. Your concern about your sternal strength would be a good topic to bring up with your doctor, he/she is monitoring your recovery and knows your condition. The other topic, the pain you are experiencing, should also be discussed, the doctor may have guidelines to that end concerning exercising. We are all different in our physical shape before surgery and our rate of recovery. If you have a local Y, there may be post-op exercise classes available with your doctor's OK.