I had double bypass (CABGx2) July of 2018. After 3 years, I still had a lot of pain & itching in my scar area, especially at night. At a dermatologist appointment, my doctor noticed keloids along a portion of my scar. She asked if it bothered me. I told her of the pain & itching I was having, and that sometimes when I turned over at night, it felt a little like I was tearing my muscle. She injected steroids along the keloids. They softened and flattened. The pain and itching are gone in my scar and breast area. It was so worth the pain of the injections!

Hi everyone. I have had 4 open heart surgeries and yes you can still get pain or discomfort for a long time afterwards. On rare occasions a muscle nerve may become "trapped" in some of the scar tissue formed after being sewed back together. If that happens, the pain can occur every time the scar is "stretched" or "twisted" like on movement. On occasion the other scars that form from the surgery (you might of heard of an adhesion) can also be the culprit. Unfortunately, with all my "experience" and what I have learned - I don't know of any true "cure" for this except for stretching. However, you may be able to ask your physiotherapist if they have some suggestions. Alternately, if it is determined to be nerve pain - then there are medications that can help "deaden" nerve impulse transmission which can help. Talk to your doctor about this - if this is what it is. And of course - always talk to your doctor and make it clear to them about how much it actually does hurt or alter your daily living. Hope this helps. 🙂

I had open heart surgery in Dec 2018 to have a valve replaced and another repaired. I still frequently get shooting pains in my chest just above my breasts. My doctor told me that these pains are from nerve damage. When they cut you open down the middle they are cutting into your nerves as well. This takes time to heal.

I had CABG x 4 one year ago this week. A month after surgery I was still sore and I was speaking to a coworker who had had open heart surgery. He said, "Rich, it's been a year and a half for me and I'm still sore when I move." I related this to my surgeon several weeks later when I was being "surgically discharged" (at six weeks they turn you over to your cardiologist). He said, "a year and a half is rather long. I think your friends is having other issues". Here I am a year later and apparently I am having the same "other issues". Pain when I move, lift or reach at times.
It's easy to be dismissive if you've never experienced something.
I have said for a while now, I wish I could find a cardiologist who has had open heart surgery. 😊
So after my lengthy comment, yes, experiencing pain years after having your ribs cut and your chest being spread open is fairly common.

Roberta, I also had a quadruple bypass 2 years ago and I too still have pain.
I too was wondering if it ever gets better