Still learning..... headgear pain.

[Franky]

Well I started back on cpap a few weeks ago. Shortly after I started to develop extreme pain between my shoulder blades (burning knotted up and pain radiating into my right arm. Got worse and worse. I'm taking BAD last few days. I couldn't figure it out. Tried a mediflow pillow...and they are nice by the way...but no help with pain. Last night I did some thinking and finially concluded it must be the full face mask. I had to tighten it so much to keep it from leaking. I've tried it all kinds of ways to adjust it let me tell ya lol. Only way I could get it to stop leaking is to tighten bottom strap pretty tight. Well I'm mostly convinced the lower straps being that tight is what was causing the back troubles. I used my old nasal mask and ace bandage chin strap last night....and it sure seems like a good improvement this morning. I don't have to pull the straps tight on it at all. IT seals wonderfully without all that.

I would have never thought those weak straps could cause that big of a problem. Maybe this info will help someone else oneday.

Now maybe I'll do some chinstrap shopping soon.

[Julie]

Hi, what you need is a mask that fits without having to overtighten anything. What you describe is common, though I might want to ask your MD if you have any hidden cervical issues.

[Pugsy]

Those lower straps that are needed with pretty much all the full face masks is one of the reasons I don't/won't wear a full face mask. I have a bad neck and those lower straps will give me a neck headache in about 15 minutes and cause neck discomfort pretty much immediately even if not over tight. Just the pressure alone at the base of the skull does it.
Do have your cervical spine checked out like Julie suggests. I let my issues go way too long and now I am paying for it daily.

[Denial Dave]

if you rule out back issues as the source

start here for tips on proper fitting of the Mirage Quattro mask

http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/taming ... e-quattro/

then consider trying this padding for the headgear.... they work great for me

http://www.padacheek.com/PAC-Neck.html

Dave