If you had heart surgery or a procedure, it is important that you look after your wounds, so they heal well. Follow the instructions from your doctor or other healthcare professional about physical activity and heavy lifting after your procedure.
If you had a cardiac stent procedure, it will most likely have been performed from either the blood vessel in your wrist or at the top of your leg. It is common to be a bit bruised afterwards.
If you have pain, take over-the-counter pain relief such as paracetamol or prescribed pain relief as directed.
Keep a close eye on the wound to check that it is healing properly. Seek medical attention if there are any signs of bleeding or infection (such as swelling, redness, tenderness, oozing or a fever).
Your wounds might be painful after your procedure. This is normal and the pain should get better over time. You may also find that the pain is worse at night-time, and in the morning, especially after sleeping in the same position.
Ask your doctor about the best pain relief medicine for you. Often, over-the-counter paracetamol will be recommended. Avoid aspirin-based pain relief medicines as you may already be prescribed a low-dose aspirin and/or other type of medicine to prevent blood clots. Make sure to follow your doctor’s instructions when decreasing or stopping your pain relief medicine.
See your doctor if you have any unusual or severe pain, tenderness or signs of infection. This could include increased soreness, oozing, bleeding, a bad smell or a fever.
Last updated18 April 2024