Ann's Profile

Mitral Valve Repair surgery went as expected on Dec 4th 2019. I was released from the hospital 5 days after surgery. The first couple days were rough at home. Thanks to my husband for getting me through them. Four weeks post, New Years Day, I was diagnosed with pneumonia. I had extreme pain in my upper chest and back. After ten days of antibiotics an x-ray showed my lungs are clear. Its been 8 weeks post-op and I am still suffering with extreme pain on and off in my torso. Back, left side of ribs, upper chest, left shoulder and arm. I'm short of breath because it hurts to take a deep breath. I've had a headache for weeks. I have been to my primary care doctor twice, ER once where my cardiologist looked at my CT scan and x-ray. I have set up an appointment with a pain management specialist. I didn't expect this pain to continue. I'm wondering if it could be nerve damage. I was up to walking 2-3 miles just three weeks after surgery. I was very athletic before my surgery with minimal symptoms. Has anyone else had this rib-back pain preventing full recovery?