Fazilat’s Collarbone Pain Travels Up Scale
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Page Last Updated: June 7, 2025
For many patients, open heart surgery recovery is filled with some pain and discomfort. Pain levels vary among patients, so the medical community developed pain scales to help patients better communicate with their medical team in the hospital and during cardiac rehabilitation. If you are a future patient, be prepared to see something similar to the pain scale example below.
The location of the pain can also vary. During the past week, I received emails from patients complaining about pain in their shoulders, arms, legs, and, of course, the chest.
Last night, I received an email from Fazilat about her collarbone. She writes, “Hello Adam. My name is Fazilat and I live in the United Kingdom. My question to you is… I am nine weeks post-op. Over the last two weeks, I have had severe pain around the collar bone area. The pain comes and goes but stops me in my tracks. I am not sure if this typical or common for patients during heart surgery recovery? Or, do I have a problem. I started a cardiac rehab program but I had to stop due to the pain. Any thoughts?”
My Response To Fazilat About Collarbone Pain
Hi Fazilat,
Thanks for writing and sharing your story.
So you know, I had pain around my collarbone area as well. In fact, the pain remained with me for the first nine months after surgery. However, most of the discomfort slowly deteriorated during/after my cardiac rehab program.
I know that cardiac rehab can be painful and challenging. Trust me. There were many times I did not want to go back to Torrance Memorial Hospital for my cardiac rehabilitation sessions. But, as I have previously written, my surgeon (Dr. Vaughn Starnes) had some very good insight specific to managing pain after heart valve replacement surgery. Doctor Starnes suggested that I “play through the pain”.
Guess what? Doctor Starnes was incredibly accurate with that statement. Remember, your body has experienced significant musculoskeletal trauma. There will be discomfort during the recovery. However, it is critical that you leverage the cardiac rehab program to help manage the pain and re-animate your chest and minimize collarbone discomfort.
New Approaches to Pain Management
You should also know that there are many new techniques and protocols that are being used to minimize pain, reduce opioid use and enhance recovery. Here are a few links about these new approaches to pain management and patient recovery:
- New Approach to Sternal Closure: Rigid Sternal Fixation
- Surgeon Q&A: Enhanced Recovery After Cardiac Surgery
- Can I Get My Chest Wires Taken Out?
If you have any questions, please let me know.
Keep on tickin!
Adam
Written by Adam Pick
- Patient & Website Founder
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Susan Bartlett says on July 22nd, 2008 at 11:15 pm |
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I am one year post op from having the mitrial valve repaired. I have had severe pain the is continous along the right side of my chest right up the outside of the breast and climbing right up into the collar bone area. The collar bone on that side seems to pop in and out of place and is very painful when this happens. I am receiving pain blocks along the inside breast and collar bone to try and relieve the pain and it works but only for about a month. Now I noticing the pain has jumped to the left inside breast area and working up towards the collar bone. There are times I cannot even find the collar bone on the left side due to the right side being so “forward”. Is there any relief in sight for this problem? Or am I doomed to live with it forever? |
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Sandra says on September 27th, 2008 at 9:37 pm |
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I am having similar pain in my collarbone area. I had mitral valve repair and atrial/septal aneurysm repair on July 16. This is the third bout of the pain and the worst right now. Every time I breathe in it hurts – It is also accompanied by pre-ventricular contractions. I went to ER yesterday and they said pvc’s are normal and not to worry about it but they are still there and the pain in my collar bone is getting worse. When I bend down I can feel it pulsating. Anyone else have this? I am 10 weeks post op have attended 4 cardiac rehab sessions and this started with the last session 4 days ago. |
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Carl says on January 8th, 2010 at 11:11 am |
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The medicines that are used for bone pain are narcotics findrxonline as opioids such as Vicodin, Lortab, OxyContin, hydrocodone and the doctors that are usually used to combat pain they cause diseases such as homeopathy, fibromyalgia and even cancer In general, these medicines are used mostly is the United States and Europe are controlled because their use can lead to addiction. |
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Rohan Jayasinghe says on March 10th, 2017 at 8:23 pm |
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Hi. I am a 60 year old male. They found two major blocks in me and two stents were inserted. That was 10 days ago but I am woken up around 4 am with a pain in my collar bone and Sternum areas…the past few days. During the mornings I feel moderately lethargic. Started walking two days ago and am doing fine during the walks. The collar bone pain even comes during the day too….like a minor tightening too in the centre top of the collar bone. Can someone explain this ? It’s worrisome. Thx – RJ |
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Denette Allen says on August 15th, 2018 at 9:09 am |
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My son is five years old and just had his aortic valve replaced. He keeps complaining of pain in his collarbones. I guess it is good to know this seems to be a normal thing. |
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Jennifer Hallmark says on November 23rd, 2018 at 8:29 am |
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I had the same problem. My sternum did not heal together and i needed to have a plate and screws placed. Please get checked out. |
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