Although open-heart surgery may save a patient’s life, it can cause long-term side effects on different aspects of the patient’s health, such as: rib cage pain after open-heart surgery, shoulder pain after open-heart surgery, memory difficulties, and some psychological problems. The side effects may last for weeks or even months after the operation.
Open-heart surgery is usually performed to treat coronary artery obstruction (heart artery cleaning operation) or repair damaged heart valves, which is the main reason for performing open-heart surgery, where it is done by opening the rib cage and direct access to the heart to perform the necessary repair. Doctors sometimes resort to less invasive alternatives such as cardiac catheterization, and many wonder: Is heart catheterization operation dangerous?, but it is generally a safer and less complex procedure than the open surgery itself. Although some wonder: Is open-heart surgery dangerous?, the great development in modern surgical techniques has significantly reduced the risk of open-heart surgery compared to the past, especially when performed by an experienced surgeon.
In this article, we will explain the most important causes of rib cage pain after open-heart surgery with shoulder pain after open-heart surgery, and the most prominent post-open-heart surgery symptoms, and how they can be handled, so follow along with us.
Cause of Rib Cage Pain After Open-Heart Surgery
It is natural for patients to suffer from rib cage pain after open-heart surgery and from some discomfort around the wound area at first, because chest pain may be a natural part of the healing process.
Often, shoulder pain after open-heart surgery or chest pain results from the surgical incision or the healing of the sternum bone and the tissues surrounding it or heart artery obstruction. Also, many people may suffer from chronic pain in the shoulders or back as the muscles and ligaments that stretched during surgery begin to heal.
In some cases, the pain may last long, or it may last for many years or reappear suddenly for a long time after surgery. Doctors call this condition post-open-heart surgery pain syndrome (PSPS).
Causes of rib cage pain after open-heart surgery include:
- Pain resulting from the surgical incision.
- Musculoskeletal causes.
- Sternum wound inflammation or non-healing.
- Post-surgery pain resulting from inserted chest tubes.
- Stomach inflammation or heartburn.
- Anxiety.
- Lung diseases.
Causes of Chest Pain Two Months After Open-Heart Surgery
Rib cage pain two months after open-heart surgery may be a natural thing and may be part of the healing process, and may occur for several reasons, including:
1.Nerve damage or post-surgery pain: Surgical incisions and rib cage movements can cause persistent nerve sensitivity.
2.Formation of surgical scars: Surgery healing can cause the formation of surgical scars, sometimes leading to local discomfort.
3.Musculoskeletal system exhaustion: Physical activities or taking a bad position may cause a feeling of discomfort.
4.Pericarditis.
5.Costochondritis: Inflammation of the cartilage that connects the ribs can cause chest pain that mimics heart pain.
6.Post-open-heart surgery pain syndrome (PSPS) and this is one of the side effects of open-heart surgery.
Back Pain After Open-Heart Surgery
It is common to feel back pain after open-heart surgery, due to several factors, which are:
1.Bed rest for long periods after surgery, which may weaken back muscles and cause stiffness.
2.Changing body position due to surgical incision pain leading to lower back exhaustion, so it is important to wear an open-heart belt.
3.Body position during surgery, where patients are placed for long periods in a way that may temporarily affect spinal alignment.
4.Lack of physical activity.
5.Nerve irritation; sometimes, open-heart surgery may cause mild irritation in the nerves, leading to a feeling of back pain.
Shoulder Pain After Open-Heart Surgery
Shoulder pain is one of the common symptoms that patients suffer from after open-heart surgery, and the intensity and duration of the pain differ significantly from one person to another, based on the patient’s ability to tolerate pain, and the patient’s health. Causes of shoulder pain after open-heart surgery include:
- Body position during open-heart surgery.
- Lack of movement or taking a wrong body position after the operation.
- Nerve damage or irritation, as a result of nerve injury during surgery.
- Post-open-heart surgery pain syndrome (PSPS).
- Spasm of the muscles surrounding the chest and shoulders as a result of the surgical incision.
Right Shoulder Pain After Open-Heart Surgery
Right shoulder pain after open-heart surgery is a common symptom during the recovery period, and is often associated with the patient’s position during surgery or stretching of muscles and ligaments as a result of long fixation on the operating table. Also, pain may arise due to irritation of the nerves surrounding the shoulder or the upper chest muscles being affected during the sternum incision.
In some cases, weak movement after the operation or fear of moving the upper part of the body contributes to increasing shoulder stiffness and the appearance of pain. This type of pain is usually temporary and improves gradually with physical therapy and commitment to prescribed movement exercises such as walking exercises after open-heart surgery.
Left Shoulder Pain After Open-Heart Surgery
Left shoulder pain after open-heart surgery gains special importance due to its proximity to the heart, but in most cases, it is muscle or nerve pain resulting from irritation of the phrenic nerve or thoracic nerves as a result of surgery or the breathing tube used during the operation. It may also be associated with the presence of a chest drainage tube after surgery, causing stretching or pressure on the tissues adjacent to the left shoulder.
Although this pain is often not serious, its persistence or increase requires medical evaluation to exclude any cardiac causes or rare complications, with emphasis that early treatment and motor rehabilitation significantly help in relieving it.
Cause of Sternum Bone Pain After Open-Heart Surgery
Sternum bone pain after open-heart surgery is common and expected, and occurs as a result of the surgical incision through which the sternum is opened to reach the heart. During surgery, the bone is opened and then returned to its position and fixed with special medical wires, making it need sufficient time to join and heal, similar to any bone fracture. Also, local inflammation, stretching of muscles surrounding the chest, or excessive movement may contribute to increasing the feeling of pain during the first weeks after the operation.
Usually, this pain decreases gradually with the healing of the bone, and commitment to rest instructions, avoiding carrying heavy weights, and using prescribed painkillers are basic factors for relieving it and accelerating recovery.
How to Deal with Pain After Open-Heart Surgery
There are many strategies that can help reduce shoulder pain after open-heart surgery and rib cage pain, including:
1.Visiting Professor Dr. Mohamed El-Ghannam regularly, to monitor the patient’s heart health, and to discover any early signs of complications, and to ensure the effectiveness of medications and lifestyle changes.
2.Improving physical fitness, through practicing sports regularly such as walking after open-heart surgery to reduce the risk of future heart disease.
3.Following a healthy and balanced diet to reduce the risk of other complications.
4.Avoiding smoking after open-heart surgery.
5.Controlling stress.
6.Taking medications prescribed by Professor Dr. Mohamed El-Ghannam regularly, such as: blood thinners, cholesterol-lowering medications, and blood pressure regulating medications.
7.Ensuring the wound area remains clean, and avoiding using soap, perfumes, creams, or ointments on the wound until it heals, because they may irritate the area.
8.Avoiding exposing the wound to direct sunlight for at least 6 weeks, because that may irritate the skin.
9.Since the sternum bone was split during surgery, straining the chest, arms, or shoulder too much should be avoided until the wound heals, and this may take about 3 months. Therefore, it is better to avoid strenuous activities, such as: cycling, jogging, weightlifting, or strenuous aerobic exercises, or carrying heavy things.
10.Wearing loose and comfortable clothes that do not press on the wound.
Effect of Healthy Lifestyle on Pain After Open-Heart
Commitment to a healthy lifestyle significantly affects pain after open-heart surgery. It is important to follow a heart-healthy diet, focusing on whole grains, lean proteins, vegetables, and fruits to maintain heart, artery, and blood vessel health. Some may wonder about honey after open-heart surgery, where it can be eaten in moderation as one of the natural foods within a balanced diet, but it is preferred to consult Professor Dr. Mohamed El-Ghannam to determine the appropriate amount, especially for diabetic patients or those taking certain medications.
Also, commitment to the recommendations of Professor Dr. Mohamed El-Ghannam, the best heart surgeon in Egypt, regarding following a healthy lifestyle helps recovery after the operation, and in reducing rib cage pain after open-heart surgery.
Read also: Difference between atherosclerosis and artery obstruction
Does the Heart Muscle Improve After Open-Heart Surgery?
Yes, the heart muscle improves in many cases after open-heart surgery, especially if the surgery aims to treat the main cause of its weakness, such as artery obstruction or heart valve defect. After restoring better blood flow or correcting the functional defect, the heart muscle begins to work with higher efficiency, which reflects on the improvement of symptoms such as shortness of breath and rapid exhaustion.
However, the degree of improvement differs from one patient to another, and depends on the extent to which the heart muscle was affected before surgery, the duration of the disease, and the extent of commitment to medical treatment and a healthy lifestyle after the operation. With regular medical follow-up and cardiac rehabilitation, a noticeable and stable improvement in heart function can be achieved in the medium and long term.
When Should a Doctor Be Consulted?
Professor Dr. Mohamed El-Ghannam, Consultant of Open-Heart Surgery and Minimally Invasive Surgical Intervention, must be consulted immediately if the patient feels any of the following post-open-heart surgery symptoms:
- Severe chest pain not resulting from the wound.
- Pain that does not improve after taking painkillers.
- Pain, pressure, or a strange feeling in the back, neck, jaw, upper abdomen, or in one or both shoulders or arms.
- Severe difficulty in breathing.
- Shortness of breath.
- Sweating.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Rapid or irregular heartbeats.
- Redness and swelling around the wound.
- Pus or blood coming out of the wound.
Frequently Asked Questions about Shoulder Pain After Open-Heart Surgery
Is it normal to feel chest pain after open-heart surgery?
Rib cage pain after open-heart surgery is considered a normal symptom felt by about 80% of patients, especially in the first month after surgery because of the surgical incision and the healing of the sternum bone and the surrounding tissues.
How do we differentiate between heart pain and chest pain?
Heart pain usually appears in the form of tightness or heaviness, and may extend to the arm or jaw, while rib cage pain after open-heart surgery may be sharp and localized and gets worse with movement.
How long does open-heart surgery pain last?
It is natural for the patient to feel pain and fatigue during the first few weeks after open-heart surgery, and usually rib cage pain after open-heart surgery improves after 4 to 6 weeks.
Also, most people need to take painkillers regularly for 3 to 4 weeks to control the pain better, and after that, the patient may be able to reduce the dose of painkillers gradually based on the instructions of Professor Dr. Mohamed El-Ghannam.
Conclusion
Although open-heart surgery is a life-saving procedure and improves the quality of life of a patient with heart disease, it is natural for the patient to feel rib cage pain after open-heart surgery for many reasons, and that is a natural part of the recovery process in the absence of serious complications.
If you are worried about rib cage pain after open-heart surgery or any of the post-open-heart surgery symptoms, do not hesitate and book your appointment now with Professor Dr. Mohamed El-Ghannam, Consultant of Open-Heart Surgery and Minimally Invasive Surgical Intervention, to discuss the results of the open-heart surgery.
You can call the clinic number 01211979117 or through the doctor’s website info@mohamedelghanam.com or by visiting one of the doctor’s clinics which include:
- Nasr City Clinic.
- Heliopolis Clinic.
Sources:
1.What are the long-term side effects of open-heart surgery?
2.Atypical chest pain after coronary artery bypass graft surgery
3.Getting back to normal life after heart surgery
4.Lower Back Pain After Bypass Surgery
