I must say that I do enjoy reading the comments, they help. This is all very new and sudden for me. Right now all I can focus on is pain managemt and I try ...Read more
I must say that I do enjoy reading the comments, they help. This is all very new and sudden for me. Right now all I can focus on is pain managemt and I try to get up and walk outside for 10-15 minutes a day. I can wait to be able to sleep in my bed, the lazy boy is just not the same. Anything I should know during my healing process would be great to hear. I will also say that in addition to the sternum pain, I have neck, shoulder, back and mid back pain....that is not fun. The muscles are locked up most of the time.
Thanks,
John
Daniel Spurgeon I had my share of aches early on, but with meds before bed I actually slept better in my bed than I d ... Read more
Daniel Spurgeon I had my share of aches early on, but with meds before bed I actually slept better in my bed than I did in a chair. If I lived close to Bass Pro Shops I'd also be anxious to get out.
Hey John. Welcome to the site and maybe I can do my "sliver" of help for you.
Tylenol didn't work fo ... Read more
Hey John. Welcome to the site and maybe I can do my "sliver" of help for you.
Tylenol didn't work for me bu ibuprofen based meds did.
I slept in my lazyboy for two weeks before I could go to bed.
You must keep on top of your meds and not let the pain get away.
If you can fill out your story and let us know a bit more about you then others may help as well.
Take care.
Bob O.
Terrie Syvertsen John. As Bob said welcome to the site. I checked your story and journal to try and find out more info ... Read more
Terrie Syvertsen John. As Bob said welcome to the site. I checked your story and journal to try and find out more information so I will try to give you a little help from what you have shared.
First off I had my valve replacement 8 and 1/2 wks. ago and I am still in a recovery mode and will share what my experience was like as It might help you too.
First, the pain management is important those first days home. The first two weeks for me and many seem to be the hardest to just find ways to get comfortable. It is most important to treat your sternum with great care. I am 65 yrs. old and had the full sternotomy probably like yourself? You didn't mention. But it is really important not to be pushing up from any position, Bed, chairs, recliners, as the pressure on your sternum is not a good thing to add to the fact it is going to take weeks to heal. Treat it kindly and be conscious of not lifting things over the weight your surgeon or cardiologist may have already told you. Every bad move or pressure you place on your healing sternum is going to add and increase pressure that will be affecting your shoulders and back. It Is important you keep in touch with your Dr. about this continued pain and what is happening with your shoulders and back while you are recovering or your home-care nurses that may visit as they will help you to get it under good control so that your recovery will not be so hard.
I had trouble sleeping in my power lift chair even as the shoulders and back didn't let up on and off for the first week and then started to get a little better once I kept to taking meds on time instead of trying to get by with out them. For me it was just taking 2 extra strength Tylenol every 4 hours when I first got home without fail. I am not one to tolerate heavier narcotics due to reactions. I was lucky the Tylenol worked.. Again, it is most important that you understand that recovery is just that. Your body has gone through an intense change and it will be better for you if you are patient with yourself and try to understand there is nothing wimpy about what you are experiencing as the pain is real, the frustration is plentiful as if you are normal it is most aggravating to have lost the ability to move quickly and do the simple things we normally do in a day. It will get easier for you day by day. Do you have anyone to help you at home? I hope so. I know for many it is hard to ask for help and in the first couple of weeks it is much better to ask and get it if you can. As to sleeping. When I found it difficult to stay on the recliner too long I decided to try just gently easing onto the bed by setting up pillows first and I did this by putting two pillows on top of each other at the head board then placed one pillow in front of those. I sat down and lifted my right leg onto the bed and had two long pillows side by side for me to elevate my legs on. So I lifted my right leg over and onto the right pillow at the foot of the bed and let the left leg do the same so that I had both legs up on the pillows and then gently laid back onto the back 3 pillows. My husband then put the covers over me and I was able to get a decent bit of time asleep on my back. If I had to get up I reversed the movements. Left leg off and over the bed while rolling to the side and
letting the next leg follow until I was sitting up and able to roll forward to a standing position. Then I was able to feel the right moves to make to get up and down. The key is no jerky movements or use of pushing up which means a lot of lifts using your stomach muscles but it is the only way I could get in and out of bed. I also had help if I couldn't find the strength to do a sit up as my husband would help provide a gently push of the back as I began sitting up. No one should pull you from your arms or should you pull yourself up by the arms either. The fact that you mentioned neck, shoulder, back and mid back pain sounds exactly like me as I had this at the hospital and on the way home like yourself. I understand the muscles being locked up as well and think you really need help getting someone to zone in on this as it is going to cause pain that will prevent your healing process to work with you! If you have to sleep on a lazy boy try putting a pillow behind you to help give some support where you need it at the mid-back area. Again, I will say that I dealt with it the first week and to be honest was in tears for many of those days until I got help from one of the visiting nurses and upped my Tylenol to regular doses and took it on a schedule. If you have pain meds, follow directions and don't wait too long to get them into your system but follow a good schedule until the back gets better. I also had
a physical therapist at the hospital explain my pain was because the back and shoulders were locked up and it needed to be massaged and freed up. My husband used our hand held massager to gently massage the area from mid back to shoulders and it was a great help. He did this on and off for the first week and combined with a low-heat heating pad
it seemed to unlock by the second week. Getting up and walking keeping your shoulders from rolling forward Is good too. At first my
walks were about 15 to 20 minutes but as the back and shoulders got
better I was able to do more. I don't know if this has helped you any but know that if you write a bit more on the site others can step up and do
a better job of giving you more ideas to help you. Take care and I hope you find some help centering in on the recovery help you need.
Debbie cross All excellent advice above! I would just add I also used "heat,pain patches" from Walgreens the first ... Read more
Debbie cross All excellent advice above! I would just add I also used "heat,pain patches" from Walgreens the first 2 weeks, and sometimes they really helped.We would alternate between a regular hearing pad, message, and those. I am 3 weeks post op and sleep only in my recliner.When we left the hospital in Chicago and had to spend 3 nights in the hotel,I used a wedge pillow(with a few regular pillows) to stay more upright in the bed.We purchased the wedge pillow at,Bed,Bath,and Beyond.This site is invaluable in helping you find answers to so many things.Do not neglect your pain medication! Best wishes for your recovery!
Meredith Bray Hey there! My physical therapist gave me words of GOLD...Stand Up Straight! Seriously, we all have ... Read more
Meredith Bray Hey there! My physical therapist gave me words of GOLD...Stand Up Straight! Seriously, we all have the tendency to hunch or or curl in to protect our chest. He backed me up to a wall and instructed me to "stand up straight like you're the President of the United States (or whatever). I thought about it for a few seconds, then slowly lifted my chin up, straightened my spine, and s.l.o.w.l.y pulled my shoulders back, expecting excruciating pain. I found I was immediately able to breathe deeper without pain (discomfort - yes). But my agonizing back pain subsided to a much less intense ache in less than a minute.
He also told me to "rest my bowling ball." The explanation was that my head weighs about the same as a bowling ball. My neck muscles extend down my back to approximately my bra-line (I guess if you're a guy you'll have to figure that one out on your own...or maybe not. Who cares? haha) Those neck muscles are working HARD to hold your head up all day, so give them a rest occasionally. When you're sitting in your recline, put your head back and relax your neck muscles. I found that using a rolled up towel or SMALL pillow under my neck, life one of those U-shaped travel pillows, made a HUGE difference. I was away from the back pain in 24 hours. I hope these suggestions help you. I remember the back pain as being the worst part of recovery.
Eleanor R Hello, you have some good answers, and will know by know that what you are experiencing is common. W ... Read more
Eleanor R Hello, you have some good answers, and will know by know that what you are experiencing is common. We are all different, had different types of incisions and valves repaired or replaced, but what we have in common is that we (most of us) have had open heart surgery of some type, involving displacing muscles and nerves. The position we are placed in for the surgery (which I try to not imagine too much) also stretches us back into an unusual position. Then as Meredith says we tend to hunch over to protect our sternum, when a little bit of stretch and strengthening might help us, certainly within another week or so. I had to substitute the pain pills for extra strength Tylenol since the former made me nauseous and didn't do too much by way of relief, and the Tylenol did work for me. I programmed it every four hours, just one pill, as advised by the surgeon's office, with the intent of keeping a steady level of pain relief in my body. At night, I would take two and sleep (at first with one Benedryl, also recommended by the surgeon's office). I had rented a large electric recliner, and thank goodness for that, for I could not lie flat and my pillow pyramid in bed didn't last too long. The recliner was great, I used twin sheets on it, a small pillow and slept through the night. I renewed the rental for a second month and hated to part with it, but knew I had to get back into a normal bed, which I did. I'm now 3 months away, doing cardiac rehab and no pain at all, but I am careful still with my sternum. Only in week 4 of rehab are they going to start me (next week) on light hand weights and the hand bike. But they have me walk in segments of 20 mins. or bike 15. For now, only at day 10, I recall my drill called for me to walk small amounts of time - first 5, then 7, then 10 mins - 3 or 4 times a day, followed by resting with feet up (Tv and recliner time). Sitting, lying in bed, all the time since surgery tends to lock up muscles, so we have to gradually reclaim them. I wish you well on your recovery. Eleanor
Liidia Wootten all good tips above. I'm post op 13 weeks and just starting to sleep on my sides. I'm not a back sl ... Read more
Liidia Wootten all good tips above. I'm post op 13 weeks and just starting to sleep on my sides. I'm not a back sleeper and boy was that hard. I use pillows, a lot! Primarily to prevent curving my chest inward. The first week home I was walking 15 minutes outside, now I'm averaging 3 miles a day. The days I miss my walk I can feel the difference, a kind of sluggishness. Motrim works well on the muscle pains, as well as heating pads/patches - a massage would work wonders, too. Keep your heart pillow (if you have one) handy - the first sneeze is like being struck by lightening and I had friends who made me laugh so much it hurt. Be good to yourself, take naps, rest and every day you feel better than the day before.
Susan Ericsson If you check my journal you'll see a picture of a bed wedge that allowed me to sleep in bed from firs ... Read more
Susan Ericsson If you check my journal you'll see a picture of a bed wedge that allowed me to sleep in bed from first day home. Hope each day is better!
I am from: Mission Viejo, California
My surgery date is: October 9, 2014
Tylenol didn't work fo ... Read more
Tylenol didn't work for me bu ibuprofen based meds did.
I slept in my lazyboy for two weeks before I could go to bed.
You must keep on top of your meds and not let the pain get away.
If you can fill out your story and let us know a bit more about you then others may help as well.
Take care.
Bob O.
First off I had my valve replacement 8 and 1/2 wks. ago and I am still in a recovery mode and will share what my experience was like as It might help you too.
First, the pain management is important those first days home. The first two weeks for me and many seem to be the hardest to just find ways to get comfortable. It is most important to treat your sternum with great care. I am 65 yrs. old and had the full sternotomy probably like yourself? You didn't mention. But it is really important not to be pushing up from any position, Bed, chairs, recliners, as the pressure on your sternum is not a good thing to add to the fact it is going to take weeks to heal. Treat it kindly and be conscious of not lifting things over the weight your surgeon or cardiologist may have already told you. Every bad move or pressure you place on your healing sternum is going to add and increase pressure that will be affecting your shoulders and back. It Is important you keep in touch with your Dr. about this continued pain and what is happening with your shoulders and back while you are recovering or your home-care nurses that may visit as they will help you to get it under good control so that your recovery will not be so hard.
I had trouble sleeping in my power lift chair even as the shoulders and back didn't let up on and off for the first week and then started to get a little better once I kept to taking meds on time instead of trying to get by with out them. For me it was just taking 2 extra strength Tylenol every 4 hours when I first got home without fail. I am not one to tolerate heavier narcotics due to reactions. I was lucky the Tylenol worked.. Again, it is most important that you understand that recovery is just that. Your body has gone through an intense change and it will be better for you if you are patient with yourself and try to understand there is nothing wimpy about what you are experiencing as the pain is real, the frustration is plentiful as if you are normal it is most aggravating to have lost the ability to move quickly and do the simple things we normally do in a day. It will get easier for you day by day. Do you have anyone to help you at home? I hope so. I know for many it is hard to ask for help and in the first couple of weeks it is much better to ask and get it if you can. As to sleeping. When I found it difficult to stay on the recliner too long I decided to try just gently easing onto the bed by setting up pillows first and I did this by putting two pillows on top of each other at the head board then placed one pillow in front of those. I sat down and lifted my right leg onto the bed and had two long pillows side by side for me to elevate my legs on. So I lifted my right leg over and onto the right pillow at the foot of the bed and let the left leg do the same so that I had both legs up on the pillows and then gently laid back onto the back 3 pillows. My husband then put the covers over me and I was able to get a decent bit of time asleep on my back. If I had to get up I reversed the movements. Left leg off and over the bed while rolling to the side and
letting the next leg follow until I was sitting up and able to roll forward to a standing position. Then I was able to feel the right moves to make to get up and down. The key is no jerky movements or use of pushing up which means a lot of lifts using your stomach muscles but it is the only way I could get in and out of bed. I also had help if I couldn't find the strength to do a sit up as my husband would help provide a gently push of the back as I began sitting up. No one should pull you from your arms or should you pull yourself up by the arms either. The fact that you mentioned neck, shoulder, back and mid back pain sounds exactly like me as I had this at the hospital and on the way home like yourself. I understand the muscles being locked up as well and think you really need help getting someone to zone in on this as it is going to cause pain that will prevent your healing process to work with you! If you have to sleep on a lazy boy try putting a pillow behind you to help give some support where you need it at the mid-back area. Again, I will say that I dealt with it the first week and to be honest was in tears for many of those days until I got help from one of the visiting nurses and upped my Tylenol to regular doses and took it on a schedule. If you have pain meds, follow directions and don't wait too long to get them into your system but follow a good schedule until the back gets better. I also had
a physical therapist at the hospital explain my pain was because the back and shoulders were locked up and it needed to be massaged and freed up. My husband used our hand held massager to gently massage the area from mid back to shoulders and it was a great help. He did this on and off for the first week and combined with a low-heat heating pad
it seemed to unlock by the second week. Getting up and walking keeping your shoulders from rolling forward Is good too. At first my
walks were about 15 to 20 minutes but as the back and shoulders got
better I was able to do more. I don't know if this has helped you any but know that if you write a bit more on the site others can step up and do
a better job of giving you more ideas to help you. Take care and I hope you find some help centering in on the recovery help you need.
He also told me to "rest my bowling ball." The explanation was that my head weighs about the same as a bowling ball. My neck muscles extend down my back to approximately my bra-line (I guess if you're a guy you'll have to figure that one out on your own...or maybe not. Who cares? haha) Those neck muscles are working HARD to hold your head up all day, so give them a rest occasionally. When you're sitting in your recline, put your head back and relax your neck muscles. I found that using a rolled up towel or SMALL pillow under my neck, life one of those U-shaped travel pillows, made a HUGE difference. I was away from the back pain in 24 hours. I hope these suggestions help you. I remember the back pain as being the worst part of recovery.