Three Weeks Post Maze and Pain

[bethy67]

I had my Cox Maze procedure done about three weeks ago.  I think I had high hopes of a quick recovery and expectations that I would be able to do more by now.  I am still in a lot of pain.  I try to take the pain meds on a regular basis but often miss doses because of different reasons.  Has anyone else had this procedure done? Can someone tell me when the pain will subside?  All I want to do is get my life back on track.  Thanks in advance.

[bethy67]

Hi,
The Cox Maze is when they break the sternum and make scars that resemble a maze onto the heart to stop electrical impulses.  I have had two ablations done previously and the recovery was not too bad.  This has been pretty challenging, tho.  In addition to having the Maze, my surgeon also closed up a hole that I had in my heart.

[Jerry_NJ]

Is the "Cox Maze" the one done with catheters (robotics)?  If so, I would think there should be minimum pain.  I had a mini maze done when I had open heart surgery to repair a mitral valve about 2.5 years ago.  I had very little pain and as the heart doesn't have the nerve endings needed to report pain, I believe there should be little reason for you to "feel" due to  the maze work.  Or, is the pain associated with the entry points for the catheter(s)?  

I hope your doctor(s) have some answers/forecast.

The bad news is sometimes the maze doesn't work, in my case it didn't, I still have atrial fibrillation.  

I didn't say you had a maze to cure AFib, was that the purpose?   In any case, I think it could well take more than three weeks before you are completely healed and have the answer on how well the procedure worked.