Mended Hearts Open Forum

Hi everyone, I'm a new member and hoping for some helpful input. I had OHS 5 1/2 years ago. I've had constant pain in the sternotomy region and in my pecs ever since. Sometimes the pain is minimal, but sometimes I get sudden attacks of severe pain that can last hours to days. As you can imagine, it's a scary feeling to have chest pains when you have a cardiac history. I've tried painkillers, acupuncture, heat, OMT, and physical therapy. Even with all of this, I still have constain pain and sudden attacks of severe pain.

None of my doctors is able to explain or resolve this. Has anyone experienced these symptoms? Is there a cure for this pain out there?

Thanks for reading. Input appreciated.

Hi everyone, I'm a new member and hoping for some helpful input. I had OHS 5 1/2 years ago. I've had constant pain in the sternotomy region and in my pecs ever since. Sometimes the pain is minimal, but sometimes I get sudden attacks of severe pain that can last hours to days. As you can imagine, it's a scary feeling to have chest pains when you have a cardiac history. I've tried painkillers, acupuncture, heat, OMT, and physical therapy. Even with all of this, I still have constain pain and sudden attacks of severe pain.

None of my doctors is able to explain or resolve this. Has anyone experienced these symptoms? Is there a cure for this pain out there?

Thanks for reading. Input appreciated.

Hi everyone, I'm a new member and hoping for some helpful input. I had OHS 5 1/2 years ago. I've had constant pain in the sternotomy region and in my pecs ever since. Sometimes the pain is minimal, but sometimes I get sudden attacks of severe pain that can last hours to days. As you can imagine, it's a scary feeling to have chest pains when you have a cardiac history. I've tried painkillers, acupuncture, heat, OMT, and physical therapy. Even with all of this, I still have constain pain and sudden attacks of severe pain.

None of my doctors is able to explain or resolve this. Has anyone experienced these symptoms? Is there a cure for this pain out there?

Thanks for reading. Input appreciated.

Hi everyone, I'm a new member and hoping for some helpful input. I had OHS 5 1/2 years ago. I've had constant pain in the sternotomy region and in my pecs ever since. Sometimes the pain is minimal, but sometimes I get sudden attacks of severe pain that can last hours to days. As you can imagine, it's a scary feeling to have chest pains when you have a cardiac history. I've tried painkillers, acupuncture, heat, OMT, and physical therapy. Even with all of this, I still have constain pain and sudden attacks of severe pain.

None of my doctors is able to explain or resolve this. Has anyone experienced these symptoms? Is there a cure for this pain out there?

Thanks for reading. Input appreciated.

Hi everyone, I'm a new member and hoping for some helpful input. I had OHS 5 1/2 years ago. I've had constant pain in the sternotomy region and in my pecs ever since. Sometimes the pain is minimal, but sometimes I get sudden attacks of severe pain that can last hours to days. As you can imagine, it's a scary feeling to have chest pains when you have a cardiac history. I've tried painkillers, acupuncture, heat, OMT, and physical therapy. Even with all of this, I still have constain pain and sudden attacks of severe pain.

None of my doctors is able to explain or resolve this. Has anyone experienced these symptoms? Is there a cure for this pain out there?

Thanks for reading. Input appreciated.

Hi everyone, I'm a new member and hoping for some helpful input. I had OHS 5 1/2 years ago. I've had constant pain in the sternotomy region and in my pecs ever since. Sometimes the pain is minimal, but sometimes I get sudden attacks of severe pain that can last hours to days. As you can imagine, it's a scary feeling to have chest pains when you have a cardiac history. I've tried painkillers, acupuncture, heat, OMT, and physical therapy. Even with all of this, I still have constain pain and sudden attacks of severe pain.

None of my doctors is able to explain or resolve this. Has anyone experienced these symptoms? Is there a cure for this pain out there?

Thanks for reading. Input appreciated.

Hi everyone, I'm a new member and hoping for some helpful input. I had OHS 5 1/2 years ago. I've had constant pain in the sternotomy region and in my pecs ever since. Sometimes the pain is minimal, but sometimes I get sudden attacks of severe pain that can last hours to days. As you can imagine, it's a scary feeling to have chest pains when you have a cardiac history. I've tried painkillers, acupuncture, heat, OMT, and physical therapy. Even with all of this, I still have constain pain and sudden attacks of severe pain.

None of my doctors is able to explain or resolve this. Has anyone experienced these symptoms? Is there a cure for this pain out there?

Thanks for reading. Input appreciated.

Hi everyone, I'm a new member and hoping for some helpful input. I had OHS 5 1/2 years ago. I've had constant pain in the sternotomy region and in my pecs ever since. Sometimes the pain is minimal, but sometimes I get sudden attacks of severe pain that can last hours to days. As you can imagine, it's a scary feeling to have chest pains when you have a cardiac history. I've tried painkillers, acupuncture, heat, OMT, and physical therapy. Even with all of this, I still have constain pain and sudden attacks of severe pain.

None of my doctors is able to explain or resolve this. Has anyone experienced these symptoms? Is there a cure for this pain out there?

Thanks for reading. Input appreciated.

HI Raj,

I had a CABG x 4 in July 2022 and I've had sternotomy pain ever since. My cardiologist refers to it as "post sternotomy pain syndrome" and other than ruling out heart problems, he doesn't have any suggestions. My pain is minimal buy I am on 600mg of gabapentin daily, and I'm thinking of cutting back. Someone on this page mentioned monitoring your pain and have just begun doing just that.  See what your primary physician has to say once you have an idea and he/she should know where to go from there.  Best of luck.

Hi everyone, I'm a new member and hoping for some helpful input. I had OHS 5 1/2 years ago. I've had constant pain in the sternotomy region and in my pecs ever since. Sometimes the pain is minimal, but sometimes I get sudden attacks of severe pain that can last hours to days. As you can imagine, it's a scary feeling to have chest pains when you have a cardiac history. I've tried painkillers, acupuncture, heat, OMT, and physical therapy. Even with all of this, I still have constain pain and sudden attacks of severe pain.

None of my doctors is able to explain or resolve this. Has anyone experienced these symptoms? Is there a cure for this pain out there?

Thanks for reading. Input appreciated.

Hi everyone, I'm a new member and hoping for some helpful input. I had OHS 5 1/2 years ago. I've had constant pain in the sternotomy region and in my pecs ever since. Sometimes the pain is minimal, but sometimes I get sudden attacks of severe pain that can last hours to days. As you can imagine, it's a scary feeling to have chest pains when you have a cardiac history. I've tried painkillers, acupuncture, heat, OMT, and physical therapy. Even with all of this, I still have constain pain and sudden attacks of severe pain.

None of my doctors is able to explain or resolve this. Has anyone experienced these symptoms? Is there a cure for this pain out there?

Thanks for reading. Input appreciated.

Hi Raj,

One last thought and this may or may not be true - supposedly the wires used to keep the sternum in place during recovery are permanent. They could cause issues and are removed in some cases. I'm seeing my primary and cardiologist in about a month and plan on discussing it. 

Hi everyone, I'm a new member and hoping for some helpful input. I had OHS 5 1/2 years ago. I've had constant pain in the sternotomy region and in my pecs ever since. Sometimes the pain is minimal, but sometimes I get sudden attacks of severe pain that can last hours to days. As you can imagine, it's a scary feeling to have chest pains when you have a cardiac history. I've tried painkillers, acupuncture, heat, OMT, and physical therapy. Even with all of this, I still have constain pain and sudden attacks of severe pain.

None of my doctors is able to explain or resolve this. Has anyone experienced these symptoms? Is there a cure for this pain out there?

Thanks for reading. Input appreciated.