Muscle soreness?

[zrons]

I started CPAP therapy in Sept of 2010. Sometimes I wake up with a very uncomfortable soreness in the muscles between my shoulder blades. This happens about half the time and I am OK on the other nights. The discomfort is severe enough that I have to get out of bed. After about 20 minutes the pain abates most of the time. This began after the pressure on my CPAP was changed, about a month ago, from 10 to 11. They changed my pressure because the data said I was snoring 250 times a night on 10 and now on 11 I snore 217 times a night. They said a Bipap might be better. My machine is a PR System One REMstar Pro CPAP Machine with C-Flex Plus and matching humidifier. Mirage Quattro Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear. What can I do about the muscle soreness? What do I need to know about switching machines? What questions would you ask? Thanks zrons

[robysue]

Could the muscle soreness be related to the position you're sleeping in instead of the CPAP pressure?

I ask because I have noticed that on the nights where I fall asleep in a less than perfect position (comfort-wise) and also don't move around too much (because I'm sleeping pretty soundly, I think), are also the nights where when I wake up the next day, I have some pretty sore muscles---including the ones on my back and between my shoulder blades.

I've been attributing it to simply not wiggling around enough in my sleep since the muscle soreness is quite similar to what happens if I happen to sit extremely still in one place without moving enough for an hour or two.

Good luck in figuring out why your muscles are sore.

[zrons]

I have never had this problem before. Since being on CPAP my sleeping positions have not changed. The problem started with a pressure of 11. Thats the only corolation I have noticed. Thanks for your response.

[msradar65]

I just started CPAP on monday. I have experienced some muscle soreness like you are speaking of. Between my shoulder blades, my ribs and belly. I think its my body getting use to the pressure. It was very bad the first two days and now is much better.

I think I was partially fighting my machine. Which I think now i may not be doing.

[pitrow]

Could be a couple of things. Might be your diaphragm muscles getting used to exhaling against the pressure, might be GERD. I know sometimes when I have a GERD flareup it often times produces pain right under my shoulderblade, mostly on the right side, but sometimes left. Might be worth asking your doc about though.

[Slartybartfast]

FWIW, I have the same thing. Dull aching in my upper back just beneath shoulder blades. I'm also on 11 cm, but have been running in APAP mode for about 8 weeks now collecting data. But just so I'd have something to compare to, I went back to the 11 cm fixed pressure for several days but immediately had the pain in my upper back. Didn't matter what position I was sleeping in. Side, back, face smooshed into pillow, it hurt in every position enough that it kept me awake. So I went back to auto mode 8-13 cm and I'm sleeping fine again. So I think it's probably the pressure perhaps forcing the lungs to expand the ribs a little more than they're accustomed to over long periods. I think probably an OTC pain reliever might be all that's needed to allow me to sleep through it until i become accustomed to the higher pressure. But then, my numbers are the same on the 8-13 cm APAP mode and I have fewer leaks, so . . .

It's definitely worth running by your Doc', though, but know you're not alone.