My bicuspid aortic valve was replaced mid December (2011) so I had no arm pain prior to surgery. The surgery was botched and had to be re-done 4 weeks later, but I remember having fairly severe pain in my left arm at times. The pain would slowly subside and disappear within about 10 minutes. I had very little pain from the sternum after both surgeries. After the second surgery I was still experiencing intermittent pain in my left arm, but found it usually occurred when I first started exercising, especially when walking. This pain still occurs 12 weeks later but is much less, sometimes barely noticeable. Please reply  and let me know if your sister's arm pain eventually resolved itself. Thank you.