Chronic Pain after Stent

[welovin]

My dad is 60.  Great health until 2 yrs ago.  Heart attack rushed into triple bypass.  Came home 3 weeks walking great, feeling great.  6 weeks after tbs numbness in fingers shortness of breath but feels great.  Went to doctor found blockage, Md wanted to place stent.  During placement dad said he thought the MD was hammering in the stent with a mallet because the MD said he couldnt punch through.  He came home after stent placement.  Since then he has had Chronic Chest pain near the heart area.  Same place all the time never ceases, just eases up when lies a certain way.  He started taking Hydrocodone for the pain.  He says the pain is almost unbearable, did I metion he's on full disability and has no Insurance.  Anyway he's having to take at least 3 Hydros and maybe more to slow the pain.  Even with medication not much relief.  He receives medicare in approx 5 months but the local docs can't even give a possible reason for the pain.  If anyone has any possibilities please let me know I have been researching for a year.

[jerrip]

I have 5 stents and many many trips to the ER and transfers to the other hospital to get angiograms.  Turns out they FINALLY after many years diagnosed it as copd, with cronic bronchitis, and empasema...however you spell it.  I have been put on meds for The lung disease and in several months now no chest pains.   Jerri

[gruber]

could be statin drugs if you are taking them.

[orbitgirl]

Just wondering if you could give some advise. I am 38 and a year ago had a stent put in. I have had continued pain in the heart area and numerous trips to emergency rooms and specialists. No one can give me an answer or explain why I get this pain. The stent was difficult to put in and I have questioned my doctor about this and have received no answers.

I had a second angiogram  done and this was "normal". Any ideas on how to get some answers?

Any ideas would be greatly appreciate

[Al Dente]

There is some instance of chest pain caused by the positioning of stents, especially in stents that have difficulty in deploying them.  Very few cardiologists will admit this--especially the guy who placed it.

Depending on how they heal, there can be some issues with the artery itself.  I had some continuing pain after my stent, and the docs did another cath to make sure there wasn't damage.  During my cath, the cardio triggered a severe vasospasm--I kept having pain afterwards, and the cardiologist blamed it on heartburn.  Increased cardiac meds decreased the pain.

I had an echo as well to make sure no one did some damage during the several procedures themselves.  The vessel wall may be damaged and extremely sensative...this is even moreso the case in diabetics and those with endothelial dysfunction.

This is not normal and I would discuss this with another cardiologist (group practices do stick together).

[anacyde]

"just eases up when lies a certain way"

Pain that changes with movement or position is rarely cardiac.  I'm sorry he's going through this, it sounds like an awful experience.  Definitely pursue it, he should not be in that much pain, regardless of the cause.

[lbarker]

sounds like he needs to go to see a cardiologist.  It isn't good for him to be in so much pain.  Who knows he could be having small heart attacks or even a stroke.  Please get him to a dr.