Neck/back pain from mask/hose??

TIGMONSTER68 · Post by **TIGMONSTER68** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 5:24 pm

Hi all,
Okay, I know, I ask too many stupid questions, but that's what you are all here for right? To help the newbie, and answer her questions even though you've probably answered them a million times already!
I have had a very stiff left side of my back/shoulder/neck for about 4 days now....I was just wondering if this could have anything to do with the weight of the mask/hose and turning from side to side about 100 times a night ?(okay it's maybe not a hundred but it feels like it)
It is definitely on the side that the hose falls from but it's just so strange that it started this week and I have been wearing my mask for a week now. Am I fetching here or has anyone else had this problem when they first started CPAP? I'm pretty sure it will go away once I get used to everything or build my "neck muscle" but right now I'm getting headaches from all the muscle rubs I'm using....
Just wondering..
Jodie

JeffH · Post by **JeffH** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 5:45 pm

Try running the hose over your headboard. With the hose running over my head, I feel like I have more freedom in bed and don't feel like I have to lay a certain way.

Good luck

JeffH

Lea · Post by **Lea** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 6:03 pm

Many people need to see a chiropractor while they adjust to CPAP. You might want to consider it.

Knightfall · Post by **Knightfall** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 8:16 pm

Jodie,

I've been on CPAP for a little over a year now. I can remember having a lot of new aches and pains when I first started. One thing I did was exactly as Jeff stated, get the gear routed so that the impact on your sleep is minimized. I have mine run overhead and use medical tubing (can be bought at Home Depot) to suspend the CPAP tubing from above. This way I can roll as needed from one side to my back and to the other side with little interruption to my sleep. Prior to running the tubing overhead, each movement would require me to wake up enough to figure where the tubing was and where I had to relocate the tubing so I could get to the new position.

I'm guessing your sleeping position is altered in comparison to pre-cpap. Get the gear adjusted for your comfort; it will be easier than adjusting your body to accomodate the gear.

I'm a big fan of the Activa. But to try something different (and try to remedy some possible mouth leakage), my DME gave me a Quattro as my new mask. I am a side sleeper, and the Quattro is a little less side sleep friendly than the Activa (at least for me). So in the mornings when I used the Quattro, I would wake up with a nasty backache. I'd complain to the wife about it, and she'd let me know I slept on my back most of the night, hence the source of my backpain. A case of the user adjusting to the gear.

Make the gear as transparent to your sleep as possible. There's tons of great info to be had on this forum on the topic. Best of luck, Ken

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 8:20 pm

Jodie, I had neck/back pain in the early weeks, until I found the perfect way to sleep. That is most likely what you're doing - still working it out.

I prefer over the head hose management. I don't dangle it, I just run it over the pillow, along the mattress/headboard joint, and up to the machine.

I had lots of trouble with a variety of masks because they were uncomfortable to lay on, or they would slide off my face when I side slept, or the vent would blow into the pillow or something. When I found the NAII, I finally got some decent sleep. I think you should keep trying different masks.

Don't buy the NAII because it worked for me. Try whatever you think might work for you.

Cheers,
B.

Treesap · Post by **Treesap** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 10:05 pm

All is great advice. Going to the chiropractor has been very beneficial to me. There is definitely a sleep adjustment period, and I'm still going through that adjustment period even 2 months in to CPAP therapy.

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 3:52 am

I found that the only way the stiff neck would go away was to get a new pillow. I use the papillow, others find the shapable pillow from Target works best for them. If the soreness persists...try a new pillow.

Brenda

catbirdgirl · Post by **catbirdgirl** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 6:01 am

I had side pain for a few weeks until I found that a body pillow, curled around me, seems to support both my side and back so I don't get stiff from staying in one position.

its in a U shape with my shoulder in the middle.

TIGMONSTER68 · Post by **TIGMONSTER68** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 6:27 am

Well I will take your advice, I am going to route the hose over my head tonight, and also try to find a better pillow. Something has to work soon because I feel like I got NO sleep last night, my whole body aches right now, and I am not feeling very positive about this anymore. I just want to sleep, I'm so tired, the first couple mornings I felt great until my neck and back started hurting and now I am not getting good sleep because of it.....it's a vicious cycle! It does get better right?
Jodie

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 7:00 am

YES! It does get better...I promise!

Brenda

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 9:28 am

TIGMONSTER68 wrote:Well I will take your advice, I am going to route the hose over my head tonight, and also try to find a better pillow. Something has to work soon because I feel like I got NO sleep last night, my whole body aches right now, and I am not feeling very positive about this anymore. I just want to sleep, I'm so tired, the first couple mornings I felt great until my neck and back started hurting and now I am not getting good sleep because of it.....it's a vicious cycle! It does get better right?
Jodie

I felt exactly the same way the first few weeks. I finally had a breakthrough in week 6.

GOOD LUCK! TRY EVERYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF!!!!
B.

DawnTCB · Post by **DawnTCB** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 9:48 am

In my first few weeks I found that I was tipping my head BACK a little bit with my mask on... I am not sure why I did it, maybe I was unconciously trying to lift the weight on my face up a little higher, I don't know. I was getting some terrible neck pains from that and had no idea what was causing it. Once I realized, I try to consciously tip my head at a more normal angle now, and have had no further trouble.

Hope that helps,
Dawn

Lee Lee · Post by **Lee Lee** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 4:44 pm

PLEASE don't give up.......I had the same problem at first. I was holding myself stiffly, afraid the mask was going to move and leak.
I got a new pillow, which I love so much. It's a Laura Ashley "side sleeper" from Kohl's. I was able to nestle into it and then relaxed as I was able to trust the mask more.
Just keep experimenting, and you WILL prevail.
Also, if you can, try taking an Advil or Motrin ( if you are not allergic) before you go to sleep to reduce the inflammation. Also, a warm bath to relax your muscles. I think you are just tense. There's nothing about CPAP therapy that would cause the aches, per se.
I'm thinking good thoughts for you.
Lee Ann

atruvirgo · Post by **atruvirgo** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 8:30 pm

I have a very stiff neck since CPAP. I think I am putting my arm under my neck for support and by morning my neck is out of whack. Worse than the neck is the right jaw. It hurts so bad some times I can't stand it. I can't figure out what is causing it BUT it did start the very first night on CPAP. At first I thought that the full face mask they gave me was pressing to hard on my jaw. Now I'm thinking in my futile attempt to keep my mouth closed I am clinching at night and paying for it all day long.

TIGMONSTER68 · Post by **TIGMONSTER68** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 6:29 am

Hello and Good Morning!
Well I took all of your advice and put the hose over my head last night, I also stopped fighting with my mask and became it's boss, I had a higher leak rate .34 last night than I usually do (avg .16) but I slept soooo good, I'll work on the leakage tonight, I did notice the air coming in but I was soooo comfortable I didn't want to get up and adjust my mask. LAZY ME!! I don't remember tossing and turning at all, my neck feels almost 100% better and it's going to be a wonderful day! Like someone said in an earlier reply to my original post, I too was tipping my neck back for some strange reason, whether to keep the mask on or make it seal better, I don't know, so last night I tried to be as natural as possible laying down and tried to forget I had a mask on......
Thanks to all for your advice because it worked!!!
Jodie

Neck/back pain from mask/hose??

Neck/back pain from mask/hose??

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Additional Comments: Started CPAP and my new life 5-25-07

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Machine	Mask	Humidifier