still tired BUT AHI < 5, headache, waking pain and numbne

[Stryker5777]

HEY Everyone,

I wanted to start this message out as a Thank you to everyone, but I feel its more important that I use the message header that I did, because I want people who have those symptoms to PLEASE READ this. Yes, I'm still doing the xpap TTP, this is so life changing that I had to share this with you guys.

So I'll start with my Thank You to everyone on here for the past (what ..? approximately lurking + joined ) 4 years. Go ahead and read some of my earlier posts. I've went through alot and you guys and this website have been here for me. I couldn't have gotten this far without you guys. This post is my gift to all you guys, aswell. The next time I write on this issue maybe a book. ( Oh and NO, I'm not a medical profession or doctor and you should not use this as a substitute or rely on it for medical advice. This post is for informational purposes ONLY.. Please skip all the way to the bottom if you have any question to that....)

I'VE FOUND THE SOLUTION TO MY PROBLEM...

if your reading this and you still haven't found rest at nights then you maybe suffering like I did. Maybe you've been to all the doctors and none of them could find out exactly why your still not sleeping right. ALL the tests they've run on you have come back fine AND you've been suffering quitely now for years....

You have tried EVERYTHING to sleep including LOTS and LOTS of machine/mask configurations. Okay well here's the symptoms and let's see if they sound like yours. (PLEASE, promise me to read to the end of this lengthy problem even if your sleep deprevied like I was)

Background

* Always sleepy
* neck and back pain
* numbness, coldness and tingling in hands, arms and legs/feet (that couldn't be explained, backpack syndrome??)
* daily headaches that last all day (especially above the nose in the forehead region between your eyelashes)
* possible night sweats
* nasal congestion and really red blood shot eyes
* a host of other seemingly unconnected problems (constipation, chest pains, palpitations, depression, irritability, memory problems... etc.)
* Finally definitely diagnosisedwith OSA, and/or mild early stage degenerative disc disease (BUT your told everyone has this in some way... or do they??)

* Some other possible diagnosises that get thrown at you, but just confuse the issue: Depression, anexity disorder, fibermyolia, carpel tunnel, raynaud's syndrome, migraines, seasonal/general/ allergies, thorasic outlet syndrome and who knows what else...


Currently

* Still extremely tired (or residual EDS)
* Back and neck pain are gone BUT neck stiffness still there
* Numbness and pain mostly or completely gone, except you wake up in the morning with it and/or find your arms above your head and you just accept it, because there's no logical reason and it goes away when you move around.
* Headaches in the forehead, still there they LAST all day and usually everyday.
* Easily extremely cold or hot in the morning

Tests

* Does every test you take come up Negative and DOCTOR's can't figure out what's your problem? (for example MRI, X-ray, Blood work, urine analysis)
* Nasal congestion that is a little better (for whatever reason or stuff you've tried) but doesn't really respond to ANYTHING out there?
* Turn your head from side to side, IS IT STIFF at all..??
* Feel the muscles of your neck do they feel really tight, knotty or over built, STILL?
* Take a video of yourself sleeping with your camcorder on Night mode and look for arm movement especially above your head or shaking out your hand(s) (usually a pattern of waking up, arm movement and then falling back to sleep.


Possible underlying Problem

* you have referred pain from your NECK and/or BACK that causes you numbness and pain throughout the night which disrupts your sleep AND the scarey part is you'll never even know it!!!
* Chronic sleep deprivation is ruining your life.

I wish I could scream what I'm abut to say so loud.. since I've had so much difficultly getting that its NOT my AHI but actually something else. I've spent so much money on so many things lived in fear and darkness of not knowing but wondering for so long. It hurts in a way to think about all the years I've lost to this dis-ease.

Treatment

1. use of a variety of methods (deep tissue massage, relaxing music, heat, stretching ..etc ) to losen and stretch the overdeveloped/ out of balance muscles in your neck and back IN ORDER to allow them to heal correctly.
2. keep your AHI low and your sleep in check.. this is crucial since its part of the reason you got here in the first place.

Out come

* Head aches disappear, Numbness and pain goes away... Sleep architecture returns to normal which solves most the other problems.

Interesting Web-Links

trigger point therapy
http://www.triggerpointbook.com/triggerp.htm

Muscles and Pain: Knee Pain, Backaches, Headaches, Even Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
http://round-earth.com/MyofascialIntro.html
http://www.round-earth.com/HeadPainIntro.html (Awesome pics illustrating nerve referment points)
http://www.uspharmacist.com/oldformat.a ... icpain.htm

Sinus Headaches (most aren't from sinuses themselves!!)
http://www.ent-consult.com/sinus_head.html

Conclusion

Its been a long ride or me and I've been through so much.. but I wouldn't be here today telling you I solved my problem if I wasn't absolutely SURE that I did. I've already started my course of treatment and have begun to notice the difference.

Whatever your problem maybe, there is a solution out there.. I didn't believe this until now, but if you believe that your well and imagine it vividly, and stay positive, feel good and BE OPEN to the universe every day, then the universe will hear and obey.

Thanks to everyone again..
and best wishes to all

Stryker5777

Please NOTE: I'm not a doctor or medical professional nor do I play one on TV... This is purely a educational column intended for informational purposes ONLY. Please seek a qualified medical professional to help diagnosis and treat you. This includes if you believe you or anyone you knows suffers from ANY of the medical conditions listed above.

This is also not nor intends to be an endorsement of any product or website. Any listed above or referred to is not a warranty, evaluation or endorsement of their products.

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): video, AHI

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): video, AHI

[Dgrendahl]

I have seasonal allergies and take meds for that. I was also using Viagra. Well, I started developing severe headaches that just wouldn't go away and was experiencing all of the symptoms you speak of. I went to see my doctor who is India and he asked me if I was using Viagra. I said, "yes." Well then, he said, I know what your problem is. Your nasal passages are all dried up from taking allergy meds and/or because of the use of Viagra. He said that one of the worst side-effects of Viagra is just this. He told me to pick up a bottle of Afrin and use it for one day only and then to get Simply Saline and start using it many times a day to get the nasal passages moist again. It took one week and I was out of pain and all of the other symptoms you speak of. So, this is/was just my situation.

[RosemaryB]

I'm a firm believer in deep tissue and other therapeutic massage. I've been doing this for some years. When I first started I could not turn my head around in the car to see behind me and had to turn my whole body. I have neck disc deterioration. Also I was in quite a bit of pain. So, I had physical therapy and tried chiropractic. The chiro was out of pocket and very, very expensive, so I tried massage. The thing that helped the most was ongoing massage. As long as I get regular massage, at least every other week, this stays in check. I also do yoga and stretching.

Also, I tore my kneee pretty badly a while back. I had physical therapy and was declared "cured." OK, I could walk and wasn't in pain after some months, but my knee could not bend right. The PTs just shrugged their shoulders about that. So, I got massage and in two sessions my knee was again quite a bit more mobile. A few more and it was back to normal Honestly, it was amazing.

Since starting the cpap I've had some bad reactions to new sleeping positions and the massage has been a lifesaver. Staying mobile is very important.

Now, I'm not talking about relaxation massage, even though that's a wonderful thing when a person wants a nice treat. I'm talking about the myofacial work and other deep tissue work. It can be pretty painful, though it's a relieving kind of pain.

In order to afford this, for most of the time I've gotten this work done at a local massage therapy school. Once they got to know me and I was regular, they gave me their best students. Also, with my knee, the massage therapist supervisor worked with the student. I give them a lot of feedback if what they are doing doesn't seem right. This can cost about $25 a session. I see this as an investment in my long term health. I drive a very, very old car, don't go on expensive vacations, or eat out or anything like that. As long as I can stay flexible, that's the important thing. I also take SAM-e and MSM and that seems to help my arthritis to stay at bay. It's not cheap. This all will help me keep working.

At my age, my grandmother was not able to walk and my mother was headed toward knee replacement surgery. I was having these signs about 12 years ago. Between yoga, the massage, and supplements, it's a different story for me.

Maybe, over time, the CPAP will also make a difference in the inflammation in my body and that will help, too. It's making a wonderful difference in other ways. I do recommend that people try massage therapy if their neck is giving them problems with cpap.