severe neck and upper back tension

zorrro13 · Post by **zorrro13** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 3:15 am

My neck and upper back have stiffened severally ever since OSA around 8 months ago. I seem to be carrying a ton of stress there and i wonder if it is linked to OSA. Has anyone else developed these symptoms?

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 4:23 am

Could it be that you sleep differently with the mask? Have you tried a different pillow? My upper back and neck hurt in the beginning, but I got a papillow and the stiffness went away. I think it was from holding my head and neck in strange positions trying to accommodate the mask.

Brenda

zorrro13 · Post by **zorrro13** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 4:38 am

Very clever Brenda. I never even once thought that could be the cause and of course it makes sense now you mentioned it. I will definatley look up the pillow asap.
I would still like to hear from anyone else with similar symptoms

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 4:54 am

The papillow works for me. Some have found the shapable pillow from target to work well for them. Some use the memory foam pillows. It all depends on what will work for you.

Brenda

zorrro13 · Post by **zorrro13** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 5:13 am

Im down under and just checked the web and no pap pillow here but there are others as you have mentioned so will head off to the local pillow shop for a squeeze. The memory pillow sounds logical and available here

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 5:21 am

This is the papillow;

http://tinyurl.com/2plhel

KimberlyinMN · Post by **KimberlyinMN** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 5:56 am

I've also found that it helps to try to direct the hose differently for each of my masks. With my ComfortLite 2 nasal interface, the hose is connected at the top of my head. I've found that for ME, the mask fits better with less stress if (and I sleep on my right side) I have the hose just draped down my left side and kind of under my arm. The hose drape is loose enough that there isn't any pulling on the mask at all. (I've tried to have the hose draped over the top corner of the mattress so that it sort of flows naturally away from my head, but darned if that didn't make my neck hurt.

With my Comfortfull 2 full face mask, with the hose connector at the bottom of the mask, I have the hose draped under my pillow and around the top corner of the bed. Why? I don't know, but it seems to lessen the pull on the mask. Now that I write this, it seems bass ackwards doesn't it? (But that's how I do it.)

I still haven't found the right configuration for the Hybrid though. That elbow swivel seems to get in the way of a comfortable positioning of the hose for me. Granted, I've only tried this one a few times in the past month or so.

Check on eBay for the Papillow. I bought mine new there. Maybe a seller would be willing to ship to you from there.

Kimberly

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 7:27 am

I notice cpap.com is now carrying the papillow, it's listed under misc along with the padacheeks.

Vader · Post by **Vader** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 8:04 am

zorrro13 wrote:My neck and upper back have stiffened severally ever since OSA around 8 months ago. I seem to be carrying a ton of stress there and i wonder if it is linked to OSA. Has anyone else developed these symptoms?

I've had a lot of it, but mine is related to injuries from many years ago.
However, I didn't get a recurrence of those symptoms until being on cpap.

Memory foam pillows are pretty good, but I would suggest you get a good quality one that has the same shape as a traditional type pillow. The ones that are countour shaped for cervical problems might actually cause more problems when using cpap.
The Soyala nasal mask is excellent for it's lack of bulkiness (besides being an all around great mask)

TerryB · Post by **TerryB** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 11:24 am

The strange thing is that I did not experience the knot in between my shoulder blades while using the Swift with the hose going over the top of my head but I am quite sore now that I am using the CL2 or Opus. I guess I'll have to verify this by hauling out the Swift.

TerryB

PS I wonder what "un-natural" position ( e.g chin-up, chin-down, head twisted) is agrevating my back?

Berniem · Post by **Berniem** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 11:43 am

I too am experiecing a lot of neck pain. I've been on the hose about a week and can't seem to use it longer than 2-3 hours a night . Pre Cpap I would fall asleep on my left side and shift several times from left ot right and back again during the night. I can never remember ever sleeping on my back pre CPAP. now I fall asleep with the mask and propped up by 3 pillows almost in the sitting position. IF I turn onto my side with the mask I can't fall alseep. there desn't seem to be any leakage. I just can't sleep on my side wearing the thing.
Maybe this pillow you all suggest will help. Does insurance pay for it, if prescribed.?

Bernie

TerryB · Post by **TerryB** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 5:08 am

I'm using a chin strap and I think that might be involved. Last night when I put it on I noticed it felt like my chin was being pulled up and back when I had the strap too far back on my head. That was pulling my chin in more than up but it felt much better when I moved the strap forward on my head. More experiments to follow.

TerryB

zorrro13 · Post by **zorrro13** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 5:32 am

i got 2 pillows and taped them into a shape of a V
instant relief last night no neck pain today at all. almost to good to be true but it worked!

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 5:50 am

Good work Zorrro13! Isn't it amazing what we'll do for a good nights sleep?!?

Brenda

zorrro13 · Post by **zorrro13** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 6:25 am

still struggle with sleep Brenda, every morning I wake up and wait to see "how i feel" and then check the numbers on my machine. If i have vivid dreams then I know I haven't left REM so i know i will feel ordinary but don't mind too much if they were SENSATIONAL dreams lol
just bought the dove pillow with cut outs for the mouth and nose and looks like My swift nasal mask may fit in there ok so will keep everyone posted.

Mask

severe neck and upper back tension

severe neck and upper back tension

Re: severe neck and upper back tension