CPAP Jaw Pain due to Tongue

[Guest]

I'm hoping someone has dealt with something similar.. but I started CPAP about a year ago.. after about 3 months my jaw / throat area started to become sore.. it causes me jaw pain, headaches in my temple, and pain in my throat near my lymph nodes. I am using nasal pillows and my theory is that while using the pillows I have to keep my mouth closed and push my tongue towards my teeth to stop my mouth from blowing up like a balloon.. so essentially, overexertion of my tongue.

I've seen my doctor and my dentist.. My dentist gave me a 1 week dosage of muscle relaxers which helped.. but it obviously came back. Anybody have any thoughts about what my be a viable solution.. I have constant dull jaw pain.. which sometimes gets worse due to any extra stress and sometimes causes headaches.

[Julie]

Have you tried full face masks? There are many styles and one should suit you... but try them on lying down as your face changes when you do vs sitting up.

[Guest]

I have not.. but I will look into a full face mask. If anyone has other suggestions, please comment.. thanks!

[skylark40]

I'm hoping someone has dealt with something similar.. but I started CPAP about a year ago.. after about 3 months my jaw / throat area started to become sore.. it causes me jaw pain, headaches in my temple, and pain in my throat near my lymph nodes. I am using nasal pillows and my theory is that while using the pillows I have to keep my mouth closed and push my tongue towards my teeth to stop my mouth from blowing up like a balloon.. so essentially, overexertion of my tongue.

I've seen my doctor and my dentist.. My dentist gave me a 1 week dosage of muscle relaxers which helped.. but it obviously came back. Anybody have any thoughts about what my be a viable solution.. I have constant dull jaw pain.. which sometimes gets worse due to any extra stress and sometimes causes headaches.

Did your dentist evaluate you for TMJ?

Did your doctor thoroughly examine your lymph nodes to be sure there is nothing going on there? Your thyroid? etc.

[RicaLynn]

Did your dentist evaluate you for TMJ?

Did your doctor thoroughly examine your lymph nodes to be sure there is nothing going on there? Your thyroid? etc.

+1

I've had severe TMJ many years ago (resolved with dental appliance therapy over 9 months), and I've been on Cpap using nasal pillows now for three years and not had a recurrence of TMJ symptoms. I suspect there may be more going on here.

[Zeds]

I'm hoping someone has dealt with something similar.. but I started CPAP about a year ago.. after about 3 months my jaw / throat area started to become sore.. it causes me jaw pain, headaches in my temple, and pain in my throat near my lymph nodes. I am using nasal pillows and my theory is that while using the pillows I have to keep my mouth closed and push my tongue towards my teeth to stop my mouth from blowing up like a balloon.. so essentially, overexertion of my tongue.

I've seen my doctor and my dentist.. My dentist gave me a 1 week dosage of muscle relaxers which helped.. but it obviously came back. Anybody have any thoughts about what my be a viable solution.. I have constant dull jaw pain.. which sometimes gets worse due to any extra stress and sometimes causes headaches.

You may accidentally been lying down with your head in a slightly different posture due to the equipment. Tightness in neck muscles may have resulted. This can feel like/create jaw/headache/throat pain. There can also be a domino effect into the shoulders and upper back. The solution is a physical therapist to get all the muscles checked out as well as the ergonomics of pillow/equipment, etc. I have to do neck exercises on every single neck muscle for this exact reason.

[Rob K]

Does your sleep study say anything about bruxism? Both my dentist and sleep doc pointed out that I have this. I get frequent jaw pain which I suspect is from grinding or clenching of my teeth throughout the night.