Neck pain for new cpap'er

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
bambudude
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Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2007 11:24 am

Neck pain for new cpap'er

Post by bambudude » Mon Sep 10, 2007 3:18 pm

Hello,

I am a new cpap'er and have been using it for about 11 days or so. Things are going well except that every morning I have a very serious, cramp-like pain in my neck, just on the left side. No problems otherwise, sleeping soundly, just a major pain in the neck every morning when I get up. Any ideas or suggestions?

Thanks mucho,

Bambudude


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NeedinZs
Posts: 259
Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2007 6:01 pm

Post by NeedinZs » Mon Sep 10, 2007 3:40 pm

Hi Bambudude,

Noticed this is your first post.
Welcome! You are in a good place!

Congratulations on things going well on your first 11 days! That's great!
More than most of us can say!

I would just bet, that the neck pain is just getting adjusted to feeling you have to hold your head a little differently than you are used to, with the mask and all. (I struggle with neck problems, even pre-CPAP).

What has worked best for me, is a really flat pillow (the microbead type), and trying to really focus on getting my neck in a relaxed position, aligned straight without any bends, support under the neck with the pillow,and then focus on the mask.

A meditation or relaxing tape/CD beforehand, while you practice getting your neck comfortable. Reading is really good, but NOT IN the bed.

If you can find a neck knot, some gentle massage or moist heat on it.
Preferably someone else doing the massage.

Well, just a my 2 cents worth, for what it's worth.

Wishing you the best! And again, welcome aboard!

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dieselgal
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Post by dieselgal » Mon Sep 10, 2007 3:57 pm

Another thing that can cause neck pain is when you are unconsciously holding your head in a certain position to stop mask leaks. That sounds nuts but sometimes when you have a leak you find that holding your head differently can stop the leak when nothing else does!
I had a period of time that I was getting a neck ache and when I gave up and changed to a different mask they went away.
Maybe because the new mask allowed for more freedom of movement or maybe because it didn't leak as much and I was able to relax my neck!

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msheda
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Post by msheda » Mon Sep 10, 2007 4:55 pm

I had a problem with neck aches because of the headgear. It was too large on the drop in the back, so that when it was clipped on the bottom of the mask (I use a FF) it was pulling my head down. I looped one of the bottom straps through the hole in the middle of the headgear and it in effect made it shorter in the back, thus bringing bottom of the headgear onto my head instead of onto my neck.

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NeedinZs
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Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2007 6:01 pm

Post by NeedinZs » Mon Sep 10, 2007 6:42 pm

Ditto that, DieselGal! You said it a little better, with fewer words!

What type of mask are you using, Bambudude?