Chronic quad pain, and other muscle pain

I had open heart surgery 3 months ago.  I am a 52 year old female.  I had my mytral valve repaired and the Maze Procedure done, both succesfully.

I have Osteo Arthritis in my low back, neck, thumb joint.  

After surgery I have developed very bad, what seems like, muscular pain in both of my quads.  It hurts to sit up, to go up stairs, it hurts when I sleep on my side even!

The pain gets a little better during the day sometimes.  Not always.  I also have pain in my shoulders and down my arms to my elbows.  My calves hurt at times as well.

This pain seems to be getting worse and none of the pain killers I take does a thing for it.  I take Opana ER and oxycodone for breakthrough pain.

Sometimes it feels like my entire body is just aching all of the time.  Its quite disappointing, as I feel soo much better after my surgery!  If only I could figure out what is causing this pain.

My doc also put me on 600 mg of Gabapentin 3 times per day for nerve pain.  I thought it was working for the first couple of days, but now its not doing a thing except helping my hot flashes.

Any ideas?

thanks!

[Dr Vinod]

Hello!

You can start walking and with full recovery start physical exercise and this will relieve the muscle stiffness and pain you are experiencing.

For osteoarthritis I would suggest you to follow up regularly with an orthopedician.

Continue medications and discuss about physiotherapy with your treating physician.

Take care!

[Lolly808]

Thanks for your reply!

I do walk!  I am actually up to 4 miles per day.  When I walk my quads feel fine, my back hurts a little, but thats all

I walk every day.  I stretch before and after.  I still have the darn pain.

Its very tiring.  Sometimes my arms hurt even.  Its not just my legs.

Thanks again!!!

Lolly