Re: STERNAL WIRE PAIN?

Posted By CCF CARDIO MD - MTR on March 30, 1999 at 22:44:38:

In Reply to: STERNAL WIRE PAIN? posted by RONALD on March 28, 1999 at 12:48:28:






I AM A 47 YEAR OLD MALE.  I HAD BY PASS SURGEY 10 MONTHS AGO AND HAVE BEEN IN THE E.R. SEVERAL TIMES SINCE WITH CHEST DISCOMFORT. I HAVE HAD 11 ANGIOGRAMS IN THIS TIME.  ALL ARE PRETTY MUCH NEGATIVE.  I HAVE DONE WELL ON ALL STESS TEST AND I AM ALSO ON THE DEAN ORNISN DIE T FOR REVERSING HEART DISEASE, WHICH I BELIEVE IS WORKING BECAUSE I HAD 2 SMALL BLOCKAGES IN JULY THAT DID NOT SHOW ON A ANGIOGRAM IN MARCH.  MY PAIN HURTS VERY BAD WHEN I PRESS ON THE WIRES ON MY STERNUM AND THEY ARE GOING TO REMOVE THEM THIS WEEK.  HAS ANYONE EVER HAD THIS SORT OF PROBLEM WITH WIRES BEFORE.  I HAVE HAD JAW PAIN AND ARM PAIN WITH THIS FOR 10 MONTHS AND HAVE LIVED IN MISERY SINCE.  I'M HOPING THIS WILL BE THE ANSWER. FRUSTATED AT THIS POINT! RON




Dear Ron, thank you for your question.  Prolonged chest pain after a median sternotomy open heart surgery does happen and there have been questions posted recently in the heart forum on this topic (check out the frequently asked questions section of the heart forum).  The usual treatment is to remove the wires as you are having done.  With the multiple angiograms you have had done since the surgery, I think it's safe to say that this chest pain is not caused by recurrent blockages in the coronary arteries.
I hope you find this information useful.  Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only.  Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies. Please feel free to write back with additional questions.  Good luck!
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter.   The Heart
Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.