BS: Open heart (surgery) and sore shoulders

Subject: BS: Open heart (surgery) and sore shoulders
From: katlaughing
Date: 07 Jul 05 - 11:37 AM

Everything IS connected, I know...crack the ribs and the back hurts, too. Anyway, it's been eight weeks and my left shoulder, esp. still hurts a lot. I'd love to hear from any of you who've had open-heart surgery as to how long it took for the *chronic* pain to go away, or does it? Rehab is not letting me exercise upper body, yet. I started driving at 6 weeks and have cut back on it as it made it hurt even more.

I AM grateful to be here, but really hope some of you will say it goes away!*bg* Tried to play my dad's fiddle again, last night, and only lasted about 15 minutes before the pain said "stop!"

Thanks a bunch,

luvyakat

Subject: RE: BS: Open heart (surgery) and sore shoulders
From: gnu
Date: 07 Jul 05 - 11:57 AM

No knowledge, just thoughts and best wishes. Hope you'll be fiddlin again soon.

Subject: RE: BS: Open heart (surgery) and sore shoulders
From: PoppaGator
Date: 07 Jul 05 - 12:11 PM

Hi, Kat ~ sorry your recovery isn't proceeding as smoothly as you'd like, but let's hope it'll just be a matter of time before you're feeling OK.

I don't know squat about open-heart surgery, but your condition reminds me of my own recovery from radition treatment to the neck/throat area. I was left very sore and weak across the shoulders, shoulderblades, and upper arms. I'm mostly recovered from that condition by now, but my right shoulder remains tight and sore ~ kinda like chronic bursitis. Since my tumor was on the right side of my throat and the radiation was concentrated on that side, I continued to blame the sore right shoulder on radiation until a week or so ago, when I had a project at work that required an unusual amount of intense mouse-manipulation, which I really felt in that sore, tense shoulder. So my current theory is that, whatever the origins of my arm-and-shoulder trouble, my continuing aches and pains in the right shoulder are probably due to repetitive computer-mouse squeezing.

I'm long overdue for a return visit to my favorite chiropractor, a Chinese acupressurist whom I haven't seen since before the cancer episode. The guy is unbelievable ~ he barely touches you and produces amazing results; I'm sure he'll smooth out many of the traumas I've accumulated over the past year or two. I'll give him a call as soon as I get back from next week's vacation trip.

Subject: RE: BS: Open heart (surgery) and sore shoulders
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 07 Jul 05 - 12:37 PM

Listen to the pain and don't overstretch yourself. Take care and take it gently.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Open heart (surgery) and sore shoulders
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 07 Jul 05 - 01:23 PM

really sorry you're having such a tough time

all my very best wishes to you

al

Subject: RE: BS: Open heart (surgery) and sore shoulders
From: katlaughing
Date: 07 Jul 05 - 02:01 PM

Thanks ya'll. I didn't mean for it to sound that bad. I really am doing pretty well, just aggravated about the pain.:-) A couple of friends keep reminding me, as does Rog, that it really has been ONLY eight weeks and I try to remember that. I guess impatience is my middle name, in some respects.:-)

I will also try to do better at listening to the bod/pain. Tks for the reminder, LtS.

luvya'llkat

Subject: RE: BS: Open heart (surgery) and sore shoulders
From: katlaughing
Date: 07 Jul 05 - 02:08 PM

Poppa...forgot to say: "Note to self: MUST call accupuncturist!" Tks!

Tks gnu and wld, too!

Subject: RE: BS: Open heart (surgery) and sore shoulders
From: GUEST,Jean Reno
Date: 07 Jul 05 - 02:27 PM

Kat, Kat, my Darlin.
I think what you need it a subtle massage from your Jean.
Let me whisk you away to my private Chateau and take care of you.
I will scent the room with Lavender Oil and place you on the large Feather bed that looks out into the Vineyard then I will.......





Sorry Kat got a bit carried away there, had to stop before the Thread got censored...LOL
Thought that might give you a smile Darlin..Seriously... Acupuncture...yes indeed.... and take it easy will you..especially in the heat... or else:>)( veiled Glaswegian threat..!!! Yes I will call you and play Barry Manilow songs all day on your answering machine...uh huh...I mean it..lol)
Love Ya
Jude

Subject: RE: BS: Open heart (surgery) and sore shoulders
From: harpgirl
Date: 07 Jul 05 - 02:45 PM

Wasn't sure what procedure you had kat but I'm glad you are recovering. I got a sacroiliac sprain at the florida folk festival and could barely walk. Very painful. three visits to the chiropracter fixed me up. I was so grateful. No advice for you but you don't want to get RSD though. I have several clients with RSD and it is not fun.

Subject: RE: BS: Open heart (surgery) and sore shoulders
From: JudyB
Date: 07 Jul 05 - 02:55 PM

Hi Kat!

May not be relevant in this case, but the repetitive motion issue PoppaGator mentioned is something to consider - and it doesn't always take motion. Make sure you're not sitting or lying in a strained position to relieve some other aches and pains - it is all connected, as you say, so (for instance) the slightly higher (or lower) pillow you using at night could strain tendons in your neck, putting pressure on your shoulder.

I know if I'm sitting in bed reading and slouch down, I not only get the expected backache and stiff neck, but my shoulder sometimes hurts because I'm holding my arm in some odd position to compensate for not sitting up straight. And none of them hurt at the time I'm doing it, so it's easy for me to not notice - though there is a bit of wisdom that comes with age! :)

Of course, Charley can sit in any which way without ever getting stiff - heredity (and being generally more active) does help!

Best of luck!
JudyB

Subject: RE: BS: Open heart (surgery) and sore shoulders
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 07 Jul 05 - 04:54 PM

Kat-
I know just what you mean. Had it myself, and it was by far the most painful part of the whole open-heart affair.
    My surgeon's nurse told me that it was a quite common result of the cruciform position they stretch you out in for the operation--if you have tight muscles and/or rotator cuff difficulties, you can get some extremely painful torn muscles fom this. When I first got home, I couldn't roll over in bed, nor get out of bed unassisted (the side and shoulder, not the incision.) Took six to eight weeks to clear up.
    Talk about collateral damage!

Subject: RE: BS: Open heart (surgery) and sore shoulders
From: katlaughing
Date: 07 Jul 05 - 06:34 PM

The things they don't tell ya! Thanks, Dick. I'd never thought of the actual position...my shoulders have never been happy spread out that way. No WONDER I hurt!!

I've called the acu...see him a week from tomorrow. Can hardly wait. I've also been using Zheng Gui Shui and it helps.

Judedarlin'...LMAO, that's egg-zackly what I need! Thanks so much for sharing Dear Jean...oh that voice!!

Thanks, folks,

luvyakat

Subject: RE: BS: Open heart (surgery) and sore shoulders
From: curmudgeon
Date: 07 Jul 05 - 08:52 PM

Hi Kat -- Yes, it does go away. If you're lucky like Dick Greenhaus, in a few weeks. On the other hand...

My left shoulder pain, like a pinched nerve, did not manifest itself right away. It was a few weeks after I got home. It's possible that it was masked by the other discomforts.

The cardiologist who installed my defibrulator was mystified and said there was no connection. My regular doctor opined that it might be the result of having been contorted into strange postitions during the surgical procedures... Micca allowed that it was the aftermath of anaesthesia in the muscles; he experienced similar pain after gall bladder surgery and sid that it would go away after a few months.

Perhaps Kendall and Spaw could add their experience, and John Roberts when he is able, along with others too numerous to name.

And, BTW, the pain slowly departed, and 14 months later is 99% gone,except for a new pain in my left hip.

But for the nonce, enjoy it -- its a remider that you're alive -- Tom

Subject: RE: BS: Open heart (surgery) and sore shoulders
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 08 Jul 05 - 04:50 AM

One of my favorite stories - regarding "open heart surgery" deals with an older usher at church.

He was over-weight (well over 150 pounds over)but he was also 6foot 5inch; he was also VERY strong from lugging all this extra weight around.

After his surgery they stapled him together. After five days he returned home. While at home he sat in his favorite reading chair. One week later he returned to the doctor for a check-up. He complained of "sore sholders." His entire chest-cavity was wide, wide OPEN, and you could visually SEE his heart pumping.

It seems that...while pushing with his arms and upper body...to remove the hulk from his favorite chair...he had repeatedly ripped open the staples of his sternem/rib-cage.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Lose Weight!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Open heart (surgery) and sore shoulders
From: katlaughing
Date: 08 Jul 05 - 08:50 AM

THANKS, Tom! That is most encouraging and you are right, of course, the main thing is I AM HERE!:-)

Oh, thanks, garg. I have an exercise I've been doing for years: I get up out of my chair with my arms crossed over my chest...it's all in the leg and stomach muscles. Too bad someone didn't teach that fellow a few rudiments of physiology. Even in hospital they were adamant about NOT using the shoulders and arms for lifting, bracing, heaving, pushing/pulling anything! They were quite pleased that I already knew how and had been doing that for quite sometime. Oh, and...just so you can keep track...in 2 months I've lost 30 lbs and am still going...so when do we finally get to see your svelte self in a picture?

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Open heart (surgery) and sore shoulders
From: ard mhacha
Date: 08 Jul 05 - 02:07 PM

I have had the quad job done, well worth the suffering. going on for 6 years now and I have certainly felt the benefit.
The after effects can best be described as , being pulled through a thorny hedge, full frontal nude.
You will have to be patient for a few months more, it was afterwards that the left leg were the veins had to be extracted, which gave me the most trouble,do try and avoid sneezing, it`s like a stretch on the old torture reck.

Subject: RE: BS: Open heart (surgery) and sore shoulders
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Jul 05 - 11:34 PM

Band mate reports his lasted some time, and then left him suddenly. Just keep doing what your body tells you it wants and it will all come down right.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Open heart (surgery) and sore shoulders
From: Scoville
Date: 09 Jul 05 - 11:35 PM

My mother was sore forever, and thinks it was partly because she was trying so hard NOT to do what she wasn't supposed to that she carried herself unnaturally and created soreness where there might not have been soreness otherwise. It did finally go away but it took months.

Subject: RE: BS: Open heart (surgery) and sore shoulders
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Jul 05 - 11:39 PM

Thanks, Scoville. There may be something in that with me, too. One of the rehab people told me in hospital, when he watched me walk down the hall with a walker, that I had my shoulders and neck very tensed up. That was almost 9 weeks ago. This past Friday, he told me in exercise class that I was still very "guarded." So...I need to remember to relax more AND not be so afraid of doing something which will make it hurt too much, again, i.e. pay attention to what they said NOT to do! Thanks, again,

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Open heart (surgery) and sore shoulders
From: GUEST,Randy
Date: 11 Jul 05 - 09:26 AM

Greetings from Boulder, Colorado,

I am 55 years old and...

I had open heart surgery for mitral valve repair 6 weeks ago.(June 10th) My left shoulder and back and around my ribs still hurts ...I* also found that driving had to be reduced...increasing my pain level... Reaching overhead to open windows is also a "no,no" . I take Percocett as needed for pain.Just thought you would like to hear from
another brother in pain !

Randy

(phone number removed, with permission, to protect privacy)

Subject: RE: BS: Open heart (surgery) and sore shoulders
From:
Date: 11 Jul 05 - 10:49 AM

I am 5 weeks past and my left sholder has only hurt the past couple of days and really bad. Maybe I'm pushing it, I used a roller and waterproofed my deck Sat so maybe that did it. I'm board and have started back doing some physical things, feeding the horses, etc. Can't start rehab unitl surgeron releases me. Seemed a little far out to have 1st visit at 8 weeks. Hope your amy pain eases soon!

Subject: RE: BS: Open heart (surgery) and sore shoulders
From: ard mhacha
Date: 11 Jul 05 - 12:44 PM

All of you poor suffering people,. give yourself time, post operative open heart surgery is a slow process, in my case it took almost a full year to fully recover. Enquiring with others who had the op, they agreed it takes all of a year.

The only minor after effects I have now is a slight swelling on my left ankle, this occurs after walking, going into my sixth year after the op, I am well satisfied with the result.

Subject: RE: BS: Open heart (surgery) and sore shoulders
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Jul 05 - 09:41 AM

Thanks, ard, I know impatience lurks around every corner with me!:-) The pain in my should is less this week, maybe a combination of sharing it with you all, exercise at the rehab classes, as well as just Time passing by. I will try to rmemeber your words...several others have told me about a year, too.


buckskincowboy...it is my theory they wait 8 weeks to see you after surgery so that you don't try to kill them for all of the things they DIDN'T tell you would hurt, be effected, etc.! I know it is logical to assume the back and shoulders would hurt because they are connected to the ribs, but who is in their right mind going into something like this and WHY didn't they warn me about back pain!**bigGrin**

Also, much as I hate to admit it, it's obvious there is a reason the surgeon won't release you for more activity before a certain time. Doing your deck probably wasn't a good idea. Get someone else to buck the hay and throw the flakes to those horses...just for a couple of more weeks, eh? The boredom is bad, but there's got to be other things you can do where you aren't doing the NO-NO push/pull thing.:-)

Randy, another Colorado Mudcat, well if you join that is! Thanks for taking a chance with your phone number. It was great to visit with you. I hope you do join and share your music, etc. with us. Do you have a website or any online info about your CD?

Thanks, everyone. I love this place,

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Open heart (surgery) and sore shoulders
From: katlaughing
Date: 12 Jul 05 - 12:01 PM

Sorry, came in through theback door and forgot to sign in by GUEST.