My husband had 3 stents and several balloons put into his heart yesterday today he is hurting real bad in the center of chest back. What wrong?
1. Post-Procedure Inflammation: It is common to experience discomfort, including chest and back pain, after a stent procedure due to the body's natural inflammatory response to the intervention. The placement of stents and balloons can cause some irritation and swelling in the affected area.
2. Muscle Soreness: The medical team might have applied pressure during the procedure to access the insertion site, which can result in muscle soreness around the chest and back area.
3. Angina: Sometimes, stent placement might not fully resolve underlying conditions such as coronary artery disease. If your husband still has significantly blocked arteries, he may experience angina which causes chest pain that may spread to the back. Pain can occur during activity or at rest.
4. Pericarditis: In rare cases, inflammation of the pericardium which is the sac surrounding the heart known as pericarditis can accompany stent placement. Pericarditis can develop from irritation during the procedure and causes sharp chest pain that may also be felt in the back and improves when leaning forward.
5. Medication Side Effects: Medications used during or after stent placement, such as antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs, could occasionally result in side effects, including gastrointestinal issues and muscle aches that sometimes feel like back pain.
It is important to note that NOT ALL cases of discomfort following a stent procedure may warrant immediate concern, but seeking prompt medical attention is still advisable.
Immediate Attention Needed If These Symptoms Appear:
- Intense or radiating chest pain
- Persistent pain lasting more than two days
- Severe shortness of breath, especially at rest
- Persistent nausea or vomiting
- Unexplained fever
- Bleeding at the insertion site