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Question:
How long does it take for your chest to heal after open heart surgery?
How long does it take for your chest to heal after open heart surgery? I had a 4 way bypass almost 9 weeks ago. I went from don't lift, push or pull anything over 5 pounds, to going back to work next week. My chest is still very sore, still hurts to get out of bed. I don't think I should lift, push or pull 100#'s plus, or transport heavy equipment in a commercial truck, should I?
submitted by Dana, from Burson, California, on 11/10/09
Answer:
by Texas Heart Institute cardiovascular surgeon, William E. Cohn, MD
Hi Dana –You're exactly right. Although we generally tell patients it's OK to drive a car and resume more normal activity after 8-10 weeks, I would recommend against lifting heavy things, especially objects weighing 100 lbs, until you can do it without discomfort. Broken bones(or ones divided by the surgeon's saw) regain 85% of their strength within the first 6 months to year of healing. It's probably best to wait 6 months or so before resuming the type of activity you described. Good luck.
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Updated November 2009
