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Sternum healing after surgery/ how long the pain lasts
How long does it take for the pain to subside from open heart surgery. It is 8 weeks since I had a surgery for aneurysm repair and still have soreness and mild pain.
Pain is not continuous to impact my activities. I feel it as soon as I get out of bed and at times randomly. Just want to get a feel of the average time it takes to heal.
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Small update:
I am 5 weeks out, been following the tube rules, have basically lifted nothing and my pain has been small. Still have some issues with cough or sneeze or laugh but not to bad. I will say I find wearing shirts irritate things.
My sternum is healing well but not all feeling has come back into my chest muscles. I asked the surgeon about time frames and while 4 to 6 weeks is for safe zone for sternum healing really it usually takes a full 2 to 3 months for complete healing of the bone. They said I might experience issues that long.
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1 Reaction@bignelie
My surgery was in March, 25th
I never had pain, except by coughing.
I can sleep on both sides now.
The feeling is still kind of numb. I'm sure, that's normal.
I'm more than happy with the outcome.
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2 Reactions@mleiva1234 I had AAA surgery on September 29th. I also had a week and a half later there (never got out the first time) a 2nd surgery for repair of decending aneurysm which had grown 1 cm in the time I had the first surgery. Was in for 2 1/2 weeks… however, I also have trouble catching my breath.. first every 3 words and coughing to catch my breath .. I’ve been home about a week and two days and it’s better;however, still having lots of trouble. I know they did a heart bypass and pulmonary bypass I believe.. (had the whole AAA replaced with cover) I think they call Elephant procedure. This has been for me the worst part of recovering. I can’t wait until it goes away and then I think I will do ok. So tired now but came out anemic as well so trying to eat better to regain strength. Sorry to hear you are having trouble breathing as well. It’s hard but as I am a bit better every day I have hope. Hopefully you will see that too. @bonnie73
@mleival234
Ps I also had afib while in.
I am just at 5 months since triple bypass in Dec. 25.
Just completed my 24 visit cardio rehab. First 6 weeks was tough but better each day/week. Like others I have read on this thread, I have annoying but not debilitating pain in center chest some days (especially getting up some mornings) Rehab has gone great and walking each day plus my own gym work too. Just waiting/hoping for pain free days. Still no work heavy pulling or pushing at this point. I got on this thread to see what others are experiencing at this stage of recovery.
I am 11 years out. The pain slowly dissipates. It took me about 2-3 years before I felt pain free in my thoracic region. The wires still bug me in my sternum from time to time, but rarely. My xiphoid process is tender and I am always very careful not to bump it. I don't ever lay on my stomach anymore, but so what? You don't step in the same river twice. It's all good, though. Glad that you're here. Glad that I'm here. Peace.
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2 ReactionsUpdating my 8 months out:
Most of the "traditional" surgery pain is gone. I do get scar work done now and when the scar is worked I can tell not all the nerves have healed so some discomfort or pain might be still in my future.
One weird thing that seems to happen from time to time is my heart randomly hurts. The doctor says that might be normal after 6 months. I am trying to determine if it is linked to anything but right now my best guess is body exhaustion since I don't have high blood pressure and this seems to be to sleep. Bad sleep with a lack of recovery especially after taxing days and/or heavier exercise. It has me mildly worried but not enough based on my messages to the doctors office to get checked before a followup
So as anyone heals and reads this in the future, get your sleep straight!
I am almost 5 weeks out and I M terrified this pain won’t end, especially how bad it is in the mornings. I know it’s early, and I guess I had high hopes. It is much better than the first week though. My pain is centered in the middle of my chest spreading across both sides, underarms and across the back. I have a lot of nerve pain in my pectoral area and itchiness under the skin. My incision is healing very well but the chest tube site is taking longer. Nice to compare with others.
@cash298
Have you considered accupuncture for pain management?