Q: My husband underwent a bypass surgery 11 months ago and the arteries were grafted from the internal mammary arteries. Does this cause a back pain under the shoulder in the long run or during the immediate post-operative stages?

A:During open heart surgery for coronary artery bypass, the chest of the patient is kept open and this may sometimes put strain on the spine. Such patients may experience pain in the back, which may not have any connection with the heart. Usually the backache is temporary and resolves on its own.