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  • 1.  Post CABG Chest Sensitivity

    Posted 06-10-2025 16:13

    I recently underwent CABG x3 surgery 10 weeks ago and seem to be recovering well except for residual sensitivity and uncomfortable feeling across my chest. It's not really pain - more feeling Ike something is rubbing under my skin if that makes sense.  It is very uncomfortable trying to drive with a seatbelt - even with a pillow or padding.  My surgeon mentioned that it could be some nerve damage. 

    Does this sound familiar to anyone and how long it could take to resolve?

    Thanks. 

    Gary Preston 

    Attorney

    DeBary, FL



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    Gary Preston
    Attorney
    Burr & Forman
    DeBary FL
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  • 2.  RE: Post CABG Chest Sensitivity

    Posted 06-11-2025 06:39
    Gary,

    I had some sensitivity in my chest area the first few months after my CABGX5 seven plus years ago. This included a periodic slightly pulled left pectoral muscle type feeling, which I attributed to scar tissue formation where the surgeon had harvested an artery for use as a graft. It also included occasional sensitivity around the scar. All of this disappeared over the course of months.

    One thing that never disappeared was a heightened sensitivity at my solar plexus, including a visible bump that didn't exist presurgery. My doctor could not explain it and I speculated that it might be related to the wiring of the sternum. I never pursued the issue as it never bothers me unless I directly press on my solar plexus. Moreover, it doesn't bother me when I lift weights (and I lift heavy although, at 75, what is heavy for me now I would have considered baby weights twenty and even seven years ago). It also hasn't interfered when I do calisthenic exercises (pushup variations, dips, pullups). I suppose I wouldn't be able to wrestle anymore, but I gave that up at 37, so no big deal.

    You mentioned seat belts. What I did and am still doing after seven years is to place the shoulder harness portion of the seat belt under my arm so that it doesn't press against my sternum. I have no idea how or to what extent this affects seat belt efficiency, but I personally don't care. You may feel otherwise and, if so, you can research it.

    Anyway, as a non-doctor fellow CABG survivor, I believe that what you are experiencing is a dynamic process of healing and or surgical related changes that is a subset of the overall process of change, including aging, that our bodies undergo. I find it useful to think of my body as a fluid, changing process rather than as a static thing but, again, that's just my personal metaphysics and you may disagree.

    I wish you the best in your healing process.

    Ira


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  • 3.  RE: Post CABG Chest Sensitivity

    Posted 07-07-2025 09:01

    Hi, 

    I am just about 6 months CABGx4 and still have the chest pain you speak about. Feels like emery boards scraping under skin, or that's how I've come to describe it. I did get a CT at 4months to rule out any structural problems post-op, there were none. 
    surgeons PA told me having bilateral artery harvest can take a "long time" to heal and that the nerves are the reason. I was given an Rx for 100mg gabapentin that I could use 3x a day. I can take one in the evening as it doesn't matter that my energy level is affected by that time a day. I have tried 2 a day only a couple times and that leaves me couch bound. The 1 dose cuts nerve pain from 4-5 range to a 2. So using a few hours before bedtime makes for an ok evening and not as much pain at bedtime. 
    My PCP mentioned nerves returning in ankle from that artery harvest as, 30% of  people get it back at 3 months. Another 30% at 6 months. Another 15% at a year. Last % may take years. 
    Good luck dealing with this obnoxious side effect. It has led to some mild depression for me. All Drs say that's normal too. 
    LAS



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    Laura Sylv
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  • 4.  RE: Post CABG Chest Sensitivity

    Posted 07-08-2025 05:15
    Laura and Gary,

    I had emergency CABGx5 seven and a half years ago during which my left mammary artery was harvested to bypass my left anterior descending coronary artery. I experienced off and on tightness in my left pectoral muscle for maybe 6-9 months post surgery. It felt sort of like a muscle pull and I attributed it at the time to healing scar tissue, but it easily could have been nerve pain related.

    I was never particularly concerned about it, other than it being annoying, probably because I was so amazed and excited to still be alive after a heart attack, CABG and ventilator pneumonia that kept me in a medically induced coma for two weeks post surgery with 50/50 survival odds. After all, what's a little breast discomfort when you're living on borrowed time?

    Best wishes for your continued healing.

    Ira


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  • 5.  RE: Post CABG Chest Sensitivity

    Posted 07-22-2025 14:54

    Pretty familiar - CABGx3 two years ago, definitely was a period of irritation and soreness, moving seatbelts around to he comfortable, etc. and I definitely have some nerve damage: left pectoral area where an artery was harvested, left upper inner thigh where another artery was clamped to allow harvesting of a blood vessel in my calf. Numbness to the touch in those areas. It takes time - there's even some occasional irritation now, usually at my incision points.

    Hang in there. I don't want to say that the surgery was the best thing I've ever done, but it made a huge difference. 



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    Jeremy Kridel
    Rabbi
    Machar: The Washington Congregation for Secular Humanistic Judaism
    Ellicott City MD
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  • 6.  RE: Post CABG Chest Sensitivity

    Posted 07-26-2025 09:41
    Thank you all for the responses. Very helpful.


    Sent from my iPhone


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  • 7.  RE: Post CABG Chest Sensitivity

    Posted 07-26-2025 11:52
    Hi all, update, I have found good success using lidocaine 5% patches. Get almost immediate relief that lasts the 12hrs the patches are prescribed for use. My insurance won't cover them so I paid out of pocket but it's so worth it to get a break from the nerve pain.



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  • 8.  RE: Post CABG Chest Sensitivity

    Posted 09-02-2025 08:30

    Hello my name  is Milton Griffin  I had the CABG x4 on7/15 my chest is real sensitive when I wear a shirt and the seat belt but right now there is a area on my chest there is numb right beside the scar, my surgeon told me 2 weeks ago that is normal. Did you experience that?



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    Milton Griffin
    Laminate Technician
    Nor-Ral
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    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: Post CABG Chest Sensitivity

    Posted 09-02-2025 10:10
    Hi Milton,

    My bilateral internal mammary artery harvest still gives me a bunch of discomfort at 7 months. It has improved a bit but I NEED to take 1300mg Tylenol at breakfast and then another 1300mg 8hrs later. This is the arthritis strength Tylenol regimen. I was able to drop the 3rd dosing at about 5months post-op. 
    I did get a Rx for 5% lidocaine patches at 4 months post-op from my surgeons office. I did have a chest CT at that time and everything looked "fine". Insurance doesn't cover but Good-Rx gives a deal. I use 1/4 of a patch on each side of my chest (so 1/2 a patch) for a couple rounds and then can usually take a day or two off. 
    The patches work for me to give a break from the nerve pain. 12hrs on 12hrs off. 
    This is a known issue and the PA at surgeons office confirmed that. 
    At 4 months still had large completely numb chest areas and no temperature sensation. Felt like an emery board rubbing inside even if completely still, that's the best I can describe. 
    I'd cry over the pain if I missed Tylenol dose. 
    At 7 months it's still painful without the Tylenol but not to point of tears. 
    I have a soft soft quilted "baby" blanket that I fold up and place on chest whenever I laid down. This helped "desensitize" the burning inside. I still use it at bedtime but haven't had it in the tv room for many months, so that is a slight improvement also. 
    This does cause mild depression. 
    Be lucky you're a guy as it sucks big time to wear a bra as rubs on incision. No bra sternum/incision area still does not work at all so it's like catch22. 

    Good luck and keep up a solid walking regime!
    Laura

    Hello my name  is Milton Griffin  I had the CABG x4 on7/15 my chest is real sensitive when I wear a shirt and the seat belt but right now there is a area on my chest there is numb right beside the scar, my surgeon told me 2 weeks ago that is normal. Did you experience that?




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  • 10.  RE: Post CABG Chest Sensitivity

    Posted 09-02-2025 10:13
    For those who don't know, 
    this seatbelt cover works AWESOME to take away seat belt "rub". 
    As I healed more I actually would put it over my shoulder area as it would lift the seatbelt away just a bit from incision. 
    Still use 7 months post op




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