Following heart surgery, talk to your doctor
Following heart surgery there are many expectations. Recovery takes time, and every individual responds differently depending on his or her age, outlook and overall health. Perhaps one of the biggest worries is the unknown variable of “how much pain will I feel post-surgery?”
Most patients undergoing a cardio or thoracic procedure will have some pain at the incision point that subsides gradually over the first month following surgery. Patients are provided with a variety of pain medications and advice to help control incision pain. A different type of chest discomfort called pericarditis may also occur after surgery; it is caused by inflammation (swelling) of the pericardium (the sac surrounding the heart) and it will be evaluated and treated by the doctor.
Patients who continue to experience pain after heart surgery for the long term – months after surgery – should consult with their physicians. After careful evaluation ruling out other causes, it may be diagnosed as costochondritis.
Costochondritis is chronic pain caused by inflammation of the cartilage that connects a rib to the sternum (breastbone). The condition will periodically cause sharp pains at the joint. Typically it is painful to the touch and upon inhalation. Effective treatments for this condition include local heat or ice applications, medications such as ibuprofen, steroids and/or refraining from physical activity for a period of time until the condition subsides.
The Beating Edge recently heard from heart patient Jim Alich from Elgin, Illinois, who experienced costochondritis following two life-saving heart surgeries.* He is being treated with ibuprofen and no longer feels the pain.
Despite the condition, here is what Mr. Alich wrote: “I feel much better today thanks to the work of my medical team and would urge everyone to be sensitive to the way their body feels, and if something seems amiss, to aggressively seek out a top notch team to evaluate your physical condition. And when the doctors tell you what you need to do, don’t be afraid to get the surgery done…. They have prolonged my life significantly and I am able to enjoy my children and grandchildren.”
For the elderly population, it’s important to note that costochondritis is more prevalent during cold weather months, and some people may experience it without having had a heart procedure.
One thing is for certain, patients experiencing ongoing chest pain should be seen, evaluated and effectively treated as soon as possible.
*Mr. Alich had his surgeries at a hospital other than Cleveland Clinic.
