Nerve damage causes chest & arm pain??

[kbheart]

Hi everyone. I?d be interested to hear from anyone else that had nerve damage after their OHS. I?ve spent the last few months with lots of chest and arm pain. My cardiologist did all kinds of tests and found nothing?my heart was fine. He referred me to a gastroenterologist who did a bunch of tests that showed nothing. Finally, they sent me to a pain specialist who thinks that the pain is caused by nerve damage, possibly from the surgery. Anyone else have severe chest and arm pain due to nerve damage a few months after their surgery? The good news is that the medication, Lyrica, that the pain specialist gave me seems to be working. I?ve had less pain. It just seems odd to me that the cardiologist didn?t think of this back in November when I first went to the ER. It took 2 more trips to the ER before they finally suggested a pain specialist.

 

[bvdr]

kbheart, by any chance have you seen a neurologist? Chest and arm pain, especially if it of a burning sensation and across the upper part of the chest, can originate from the cervical spine.
I'm glad the lyrica is working. That does seem to weigh towards neuro pain as the diagnosis. Have you had an MRI, EMG, or nerve conduction studies?

Did you have anything at all similiar though of a lesser degree before your surgery?

 

[Bina]

That pain sounds horrible....good thing you found a pain specialist.
I only had arm pain when I did cleaning or dish washing. Other than that I had numbness and tingling over my ribs for several months post op.

 

[Trinityheart8891]

Kb,
I have had pain on the right side of my chest, its not severe, but it hurts when I do things that make me use those muscles, IE raking, using a weed whacker, and other right arm using exersises/uses. This pain is right near the 3 chest tube scars I have, so I am assuming its something to do with scar tissues, or something. I have not persued this, but it has been bad enough to put me on my back a few times. I typically load up on advil and take it easy, heat helps it feel better.

just a note, I am now 16 yrs s/p my second surgery and have had this for a long time probably 5-10 yrs

hope this helps

 

[briansmom]

My son had nerve pain in his foot after his first surgery. They assume is was from the balloon bypass machine that he was on when his heart failed. He took Lyrica for a while also. His cleared up or we would have persued it further. I think that you should see a neurologist and have the nerve conduction studies.

 

[Susan BAV]

Hi Kris -

I've had (really severe) rib pains from inflamed cartilage post-op, maybe costochondritis, which hasn't yet entirely cleared away but still gets better after nearly 4 years; and I have numbness in my arms and fingers from some pinched nerves up in my collarbone, depending on how I sleep, and some other collarbone inflammational pain. The numbness problem especially comes when my arms/shoulders come too far forward. I don't think mine is really nerve damage. But I think it's just possibly because I didn't go back together after the surgery like I was before. I have little pains here and there that come and go since the surgery, some are more than "little" though. I don't suppose that's unusual.

I'm glad you're having less pain now and I hope it completely resolves for you. Take care.

 

[Ross]

Thee need to be seen by a Neurologist. Their tests aren't any fun, but I'm sure they'll find the problem. If it is nerve damage, hopefully as things grow back, it will become a nonissue.

 

[tenndon]

I mentioned to my surgeon that my left hand gets very cold most of the time and is very sensitive. He then told me that my pinky and next finger were numb since surgery and described the rest of how my chest and arm and hand were feeling--without any other input from me.

He then told me it was more than likely a condition called ulnar neuropathy and that it may take up to six months but should heal itself. You may want to ask about that possibility.

Peace of Christ,
Don

 

[kbheart]

Thanks!

Thanks!

Thanks everyone for your replies! I probably will see a neurologist, eventually. I have this other problem called dural ectasia which is related to the Marfan's syndrome. The connective tissue around my spine is dilating just like my aorta did. That might be pressing on one of the nerves, or it could be nerve damage from the OHS. I'm just so glad to be pain free again!!
I can sleep in my bed again (not the recliner where I slept for the last 3 months), I can do housework again, and walk more miles again.
Thanks again for your input!!