Anyone notice back pain on cpap?

[rested gal]

Guest, I have a Tempur-Pedic bed and really like it. But I didn't have back or joint pain issues, so don't know how well it addresses specific back problems.

As far as I know, Tempur-Pedic beds have a 90 day (120 day?) money back satisfaction guarantee, so that would give plenty of time to see if it worked for you.

I do know this -- we got a Tempur-Pedic for my dad who finally became completely bedridden after a massive stroke. For over a year (with a regular mattress) we battled bedsores on his hips, despite turning him often. Those cleared up completely and never returned when we switched him onto a Tempur-Pedic bed. It was not even necessary to do all that turning.

[sanctacaris]

Here are a couple threads from other boards that discuss the same thing:
http://www.apneasupport.org/about2340.html
http://www.sleepnet.com/apnea69/messages/797.html

The hypothesis that it's the result of sleeping more soundly and not moving around much gets mentioned a lot, but I'd be really curious to see some data that backs it up. I'm a little sceptical.

[Guest]

About a week ago I had a fairly sharp intense pain on the right side, lower ribs.

Ric, just a thought. Google on "side stitch".

Jim

[jimbo1957]

I have a tempurpedic and I can say it's great... but only up to about 275 lbs... The wear and tear on the foam at higher weights makes it become uneven (I slide off the side or into the middle) in no time at all. We're on our second matress in 10 years and while it's rated up to 350 pounds, I think, at least 300, it's already sagging enough that I want to turn in it... at $2000 for a queen-size mattress... that's a lot to pay (and it is really comfortable) for something that won't stand up to wear and tear...

I noticed my first couple of weaks that I was a little stiff in the back and neck, and I thought it seemed as if I was arching my back (unconsciously) AWAY from the air source... as if the wind blowing in my face and nose was pushing my head back (even if it wasn't, my head kept tilting back to get away from that horrible hose...!)

Now after another two weeks, and a trial run with the comfort curve interface (which is great when it stays on, but which often leaks as I move around a lot...) I can say I'm doing a lot better and a lot more comfortable. I've stayed on CPAP for 5 hours at a time, most nights during the past week...!

This is such a change from my previous 5-6 trips a night to the bathroom after waking. Now I get up once and I'm done for the night...

Jimbo

[Guest]

Hi,
I have a temperpedic typed of foam mattress topper, a lot less expensive than a mattress! I have the 3" depth.

I absolutely and positively love it. I no longer wake up with back pain. I am spending more time sleeping on my back with the CPAP and prior to the topper I would be in pain. No longer. It also helps my hip and shoulder pain, but not as much.

Had the pain prior to CPAP so I don't know if the topper will help in that situation.

but if you are considering a mattress, you might want to try a topper first at around $100 -150 for a queen size, depending on the company and the depth you choose.

Sleepy Gal (Nan0

[Chaso88]

I have been on my cpap about a week and I have noticed this chest and back pain also. If I have slept on my back then I have the back pain and if I had slept on my side I develope the chest pain. I have noticed that since I have been on cpap I only change positions maybe once a night. So depending on how I fall asleep and when I change positions the pain is different. My wife bought one of those 3 or 4 inch foam pads for the top of the bed and this seems to alleviate the pain a little but it is too early to say if this is the reason or not.

[Ric]

About a week ago I had a fairly sharp intense pain on the right side, lower ribs.

Ric, just a thought. Google on "side stitch".

Jim

Thanks Jim, I think you're on to something. I had always associated side stitches with vigorous exercise following a big meal. (And I still do, by the way). However, it looks like the offending body part may be the diaphragm which becomes mildly or severely ischemic, and the pain is referred (i.e. appears displaced from it's true origin). Diaphragmatic pain "appears" to be localized in the ribs. THAT FITS EXACTLY ! It wouldn't surprise me if the sudden and significant challenge to the diaphragm and other muscles and tissues involved in breathing could become sore as a consequence of being on CPAP therapy, and the pain shows up in the rib cage just like a side stitch. That sure fits my experience. The pain went away after a couple of days, (and a few backrubs), and hasn't returned. Here's one of the references I googled onto:

http://www.sportsinjurybulletin.com/arc ... tches.html

Having said that, I doubt if there's much one can do about it except understand it, anticipate it, maybe prevent it (start slow, ease into the CPAP therapy), maybe back off a little if necessary, take a couple aspirin or ibuprophen. (And call me in the morning).

Oh yes, and in the meantime work the system for as many backrubs as possible.