Question: I had heart bypass surgery with complications that resulted in sternum bone nonunion. Sternal plates were installed for sternum to heal. After plates were installed the pain got worse. After seeing several doctors a thoriac surgeon decided to remove the plates, but informed me I may have sternal pain the rest of my life. So I read the ct report of the thorax. The report said "the 2 inferior sideplates are positioned slightly to the right and with the right lateral screws entering the costosternal articulation and costal cartilage. Additionally, thes two most superior sideplate have backed out slightly and the screws enter the costosternal joints". Now I have severe pain on both sides of my sternum, feels like I am always having a heart attack (several emergency room visits confirmed I was not), difficulty breathing, lose of elasticity in chest and tire very easily due to constant pain. In addition I developed frozen shoulder from pain radiating to my right shoulder. Surgery was performed while I still had the sternal plates installed. The doctor indicated he had diffculity manipulating arm to unfreeze it and may have injured sternum. Thats possibly why two screws were slightly out. I have taken numerous kinds of anti inflammatory drugs with no help. I am 63, 5'5' 180 lbs. It has been one and half years since plates been remove with pain continuously getting worse. Any suggestions in help healing this condition or is this something I may have to live with rest of my life.