[zeeclass]

Instead of muscle relaxers, I would first get a few really good massages and possibly some physical therapy. Just a suggestion. But until you (I mean anyone who is suffering with neck pain) figure out what is actually causing the problem to begin with, throwing drugs at it won't fix it, it will only be a bandaid.

You might want to try a heating pad or other heated device on your neck, shoulders and upper back before you go to sleep (without the mask on, of course). That might help relax all the muscles.

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Mask: Mirage™ FX for Her Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear

Humidifier: PR System One Heated Humidifier

Additional Comments: Female, age 50. Started CPAP therapy July 14, 2011. Titrated pressure: 6, Humidity 2 to 3

[Ms Piggy]

Re: Side sleeping and stiff neck in the AM
Posted this to wrong place so re-posting - although you have some much more serious possibilities posted to consider.
Do you use a support system for your hose? I find that mine helps to avoid leaks by reducing, or eliminating pulling.
It might just help to avoid the neck pain by keeping everything supported and out of the way..

Mine is just made form a length 3/4 inch vynal or plastic pipe with a joint and top T on which I suspend
a couple of rubber bands which I thread my hose through. It also needs a the correct bottom pieces to enable it to be stuck under the mattress by way of support for it. It can be cut into shorter lengths to make it more transportable if necessary.
best to punch it into the search system to view it and get proper instructions of course!
OR they have one posted on cpap.com, although some folks say something about one part being more fragile. nothing \fragile
about the piping one

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Mask
Additional Comments: Remstar back up machine and Breeze nasal mask

[somojo]

I have documented degenerative disc disease in the cervical spine. The lower strap of the head gear for a nasal mask created such a bind on my neck that it gave me a headache also. It wasn't too awfully tight and it only took about 45 minutes into the titration study for it to hit. Between that and the nasal congestion caused by pressure on the turbinates I had to stop the nasal mask and go to nasal pillows.

Immobility of the cervical spine for any reason can cause headaches and neck pains. I have found over the years that heat applied to the neck gives as much immediate relief as about anything else. Seems to help relieve the muscle tension which is major factor in the headaches.
Brenda

I woke up with a stiff neck after having my strap tight on my cpap and sleeping on 3 pillows now I'm wondering what to do to get rid of stiff and sore neck?

[Newbie Woman]

Sometimes I lie very still, especially when I'm having mask trouble, and I wake up hurting all over. I'd call the doctor anyway.

_________________

Mask: Swift™ FX For Her Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear

Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control

Additional Comments: Resmed S9 VPAP Adapt

[Bobby269]

My pillow is a cpap type and I also have a buckwheat pillow. Either one of these after a couple of weeks give me a neck ache . I than switch to this pillow for week: http://www.tempurpedic.com/Contoured-Pi ... Pillow.asp. Prior to the hose this one allowed me to sleep with no neck aches. It isn't compatible full time with any cpap mask.

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Machine: S9 AutoSet™ CPAP Machine

Mask: Quattro™ FX Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear

Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control

Additional Comments: Set to Apap 14/16. EPR 3, Climate line hose, ResScan 4.2, & Sleepyhead for Mac.

[Mary Z]

somojo, if you can (and I am not a doctor) take an OTC pain reliever such as tylenol or advil, etc.. That should help with the pain. The stiffness will probably take a day or two to get better. If it turns out to be a chronic problem, figure out what is causing it- too many pillows, straps too tight in back?

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Mask: Wisp Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear - Fit Pack

Humidifier: PR System One Heated Humidifier

Additional Comments: PR System One Remstar BiPap Auto AS Advanced.

[RocketGirl]

My pillow is a cpap type and I also have a buckwheat pillow. Either one of these after a couple of weeks give me a neck ache . I than switch to this pillow for week: http://www.tempurpedic.com/Contoured-Pi ... Pillow.asp. Prior to the hose this one allowed me to sleep with no neck aches. It isn't compatible full time with any cpap mask.

Me too - I switch pillow arrangements every few weeks to keep the pain and stiffness managed. I have known disc issues, so that's a complicating factor for me, but I did find that I needed to modify my bed pillow arrangements once I started CPAP.

I use nasal pillows so I don't have a mask strap at my neck. (A neck strap would drive me crazy.) For me, I think there were two contributing factors to why my neck started fussing when I began CPAP. I think that sleeping more soundly and moving less at night, as others have mentioned, was part of it. I also think that it probably takes some time to overcome several decades of holding my neck tightly to try to keep an open airway, pre-CPAP. Now with CPAP, that muscle memory needs to change, and the muscles haven't quite got the memo yet.

I concur that it would be a very good idea to discuss your neck pain with your doctor, to be on the safe side. Necks are complicated things.

[Edit to add: Krazykchan, I just noticed that your signature file says you use the Swift for her - if that is the case, then you may want to have a good hard look at your headgear. The headgear on that looks very similar to mine (I use the Opus 360), and the back strap does not rest anywhere near the neck - it goes over the widest part of the back of my head. Folks who use the Swift would know better than I, but it looks to me as though if that back strap is pressing on your neck, it's not only too tight but is sitting way too low down.]

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Mask: Opus 360 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear

Humidifier: PR System One Heated Humidifier