Exactly one year for me. I was also told no heavy lifting for 3 months, or driving. I think people tend to recover at different rates, but at cardiac rehab, the average seemed to be about a year. Like yourself, it didn't seem to improve for weeks at a time but at the one year stage it was almost overnight that everything felt back to normal.
Thanks for response. The first day at office was fine, though I took it light. Does wearing chest band recommended after 7 weeks.
I didnt wear any form of bands because any inward pressure on my chest seemed to make me feel worse. The best relief I found for any discomfort was holding a deep breath a few times a day. It had to be deep, suck in as many molecules of air as possible and hold for 10 seconds, then slowly breathe out.
After OHS to fix my mitralvalve I had sternal dehiscense and was in pain for 2 years before I had it investigated and the test to do that: RD scan.
I could move my sternum with my fingers and could hear it click every time!
Now that it is fixed, I have absolutely no pain.
@Smiley... How was it fixed..another surgery...was it simple...how long you had to rest again....