Pain after bybass

[shadylady78872]

Jan 13th I had a bypass, as soon as I was off the pain meds I was uncomfy and then my breasts are VERY tender from the shoulder blade to the tip of my breasts, the docs do not seem to be concerned, probably the surgery but its been almost 4 moths and I should be ok by now, does anyone else fight with the breast thing.  I dont have large breast and I have been wearing a sports bra, dunno what to do.  

[kenkeith]

Sometimes if care is not properly taken the retraction and opening of the chest wall can cause brachial plexus injury.If this injury does occur, immediate consultation with arm and hand surgical experts may assist managing any physical events that could result in short- or long-term harm.

Brachial plexus injury is an injury to the network of nerves that sends signals from your spine to your shoulder, arm and hand. A brachial plexus injury occurs when these nerves are stretched or, in the most serious cases, torn.

For some insight: "One little-discussed complication is injury to the brachial plexus nerves, which should be considered when the patient complains of acute onset of shoulder pain, weakness and/or paralysis following the surgical procedure. The cause of brachial plexus injury remains under discussionand there is much to be learned about its treatment and prevention Additionally, because it is difficult to diagnose and assess, it is frequently misdiagnosed in the postoperative period".

Thanks for sharing. You may want to consult with your doctor regarding any nerve injury.  I remember a post expressed with similar symptoms.

[ed34]

I can't comment on the breast issue, im a man, but I had chest pains for 12months after surgery. Everyone is different. You will experience lots of strange sensations also as the nerves start to knit back together. One minute your chest itches, then it burns, then its cold, then its painful. It's like the nerves and brain are trying to re-learn what the signals represent. It does all get back to normal in the end.

[junie1029]

I just had triple by-pass on 2/15/10. My right breast has felt like it had crushed glass in it since the surgery. Twinges of sharp pain,,burning pain under arm and into back of shoulder. Unbearable pain! Incision in chest and in legs didn't bother me at all...but the right breast pain,UNREAL!!!  My surgeon very unconcerned,unsympathetic. Said had nothing to do with surgery and he could do nothing except refer to pain management. I find it hard to understand why the surgeons are so clueless when obviously has something to do with the positioning on the surgery table. I have very large breast I am most certain they duck taped my breast to bottom of surgery table to keep out of the way.

[MamaBush]

You may both experience the breast and chest pains for months to come.

My mother had continuous breast and chest pain (not cardiac pain) for approximately 9 months after both of her bypass surgeries.  She hated taking any prescribed pain medications due to the foggy feeling she'd get, as well as how badly they constipated her.

She kept physically busy, as much as she could tolerate, and simply took Ibuprophen for the pain.  She is (was) very large breasted, and her cardiologist had told her that women tend to experience more breast pain due to the surgery.

If you've never watched a video clip of what they have to do to your body during bypass surgery, you may want to do an on-line search and watch a video of the procedure.  You're understanding of why your breasts will hurt, and continue to hurt for a longer period of time will be clearer.

[4chunut1]

I had bypass surgery on April 17 and have had to take oxycodone for the pain in my breasts. They are very sensitive and it feels like a  knife is being shoved in to them at times. It is unbearable if I dont take the oxycodone.  It is the only pain reliever that will take the pain away. I would also like some answers on this matter. Was glad to see that I wasn't the only one with these post operative symptoms.