Everyones recovery is different. I was pretty conditioned beforehand so that made it easier for me. But the first week in the hospital is the worst, the next week at home is better. I was able to do my walks 3 times a day, each time I went further (measured in houses I passed). By 3 weeks I was walking in miles. At 4 weeks I began using the bike at the gym - doing working up to 10 miles. The pain at home was tolerable. I used narcotics the first week and then only at night the following weeks with Tylenol as needed. I didn't have sternum pain so much as back pain. It took 4-5 weeks for my back to feel better. I went back to work at about 6.5 weeks.