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Permalink Reply by Nicola McMeekin on July 23, 2012 at 9:04

Hi Jay,

 

It's good news that you are recovering well from your operation.  I had a type A dissection last year and suffered from neck and shoulder pain afterwards for several months.  I had a frozen shoulder as a result of my surgery which I guess didn't help as I was very stiff in one shoulder. I put the aches and pains down to hunching my shoulders against the pain in my sternum as it healed. I tried to relax my shoulders whenever I realised that I was hunching them up which helped but ultimately time and pain killers did the job.  Not sure if this will help you but I wish you well anyway.

Nicola

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Permalink Reply by Andra Harris on July 30, 2012 at 3:35

Hi everyone! I am 4 weeks out from having had an emergency surgery to replace my ascending aorta with a graft, and I also got a new mechanical heart valve. I had an acute ascending aortic tear and disection down into my abdominal aorta. I also have had bad back and shoulder pain. I put heat and ice on it several times a day, and my Mom would rub it which helped. Does anybody feel like their heart is beating harder and even skipping beats at times? Also when I sleep on my side, the new valve makes a different kind of noise, anyone else experience this?
Andra

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Permalink Reply by Nicola McMeekin on July 30, 2012 at 7:53

Hi Andra,

Good to hear from you! You had the same type of dissection as me.  My heart sounds a lot louder than it used to, apparently this can be either because you are more aware of it (I guess that's true to a certain extenet but mine is definitely louder too), or because the lining around the heart is opened during surgery and not closed as it isn't needed.  Either way mine is louder/harder still, I am nearly 1 year post dissection.  I am used to it now though.  Re the heart beats, mine skipped and I also get 'ectopic' beats where you get one hard 'thump' then a faint beat soon after.  This is normal and I still get them occasionally but am used to them now.  My cardiologist told me that unless I am feeling light headed during them or they last continuously for 1/2 hour not to worry.  Easy to say but not to do, however I am used to them now and they don't worry me.  You are only 4 weeks post a major heart op and your heart/aorta will be healing for a while.  If you are worried though see your doctor, and they can putyour mind at rest.  I don't have a new valve so can't help you with that, sorry.

Take care,

Nicola

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Permalink Reply by Graeme on July 31, 2012 at 13:02

Nicola, Andra, Jay

Nicola - you are spot on re the heartbeat being louder/more noticible post the op.. The pericardium (the tough membrane around the heart) is not sewn up again after the op as you can live perfectly normally without it..  and as my surgeon said it's like trying to sew up tissue paper .. ?? :-) By not having your heart contained within it (so I am told..) your heart moves closer towards the front of your chest/chestbone and vibrates agains your ribs more.. it gets even more interesting with a mechanical heart valve ..

Andra yes to all you have said.. my advice is to get a small pillow or a largish rolled up towel and hold it against your chest whilst in bed as it muffles the sound and feeling quite a lot .. 9 years on i still sleep with a small pillow against my chest when sleeping on my side (I have never been able to sleep on my back since the op as heartbeat and valve noise too loud! )

Jay, yes you will have neck pain.. I eventually got rid of mine a year on with physio as it was deduced that when walking/sitting I was hunching over in a reflex action to protect my chest..that made my neck and spine very stiff .. the physio sorted it however wihtin 8 weeks.. worth a thought? 

cheers

Graeme

 

 

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Permalink Reply by Harry on August 3, 2012 at 6:17

HI Jay,

 

Sounds like you have been through the mill. I have had double Aortic surgery over the past 6 six years, so appreciate what you going through. My shoulder has never been the same since my surgery & I am still healing a year on, the shoulder pain is still there, but gradually diminishing.

What’s helped? I initially started using a Tens machine when the pain got really bad, normally after any physical work. I also started a short course of physio, both have helped. I am now using light weights to try & rebuild the wasted muscle which is common after surgery.

Hope this helps & good luck

Harry

HI Jay,

 

Sounds like you have been through the mill. I have had double Aortic surgery over the past 6 six years, so appreciate what you going through. My shoulder has never been the same since my surgery & I am still healing a year on, the shoulder pain is still there, but gradually diminishing.

What’s helped? I initially started using a Tens machine when the pain got really bad, normally after any physical work. I also started a short course of physio, both have helped. I am now using light weights to try & rebuild the wasted muscle which is common after surgery.

Hope this helps & good luck

Harry

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Permalink Reply by Deborah Levering on September 28, 2012 at 20:40

Hi Jason,

I have had chronic pain for 27 years due to a fall that broke two vertebrae and crushed a disc in my upper back. After many years of suffering one of my doctors prescribed a TENS Unit. Insurance will pay for them with a scrip from your doctor. If you are not familiar with a TENS unit it is a little pocket sized device that comes with four electrodes that you attach to the areas of pain. Turn the dial to desired setting and 'viola'. The electrical impulses block the pain. Actually, the impulses fatigue the muscle so the muscle relaxes and you feel relief from the pain. It is my 'go to' instead of pain pills that don't work for me. Let me know if you have any luck.

Warm Regards,

Deborah

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