Why doesn't everyone use a cervical collar?

[keepsmyelin]

Have your tried using bolts ... they should help keep your head on straight.

[/quote]

Well, if they thought it would work, I'd try it I'm beyond the point of worrying how something will look, only care if it helps.

I have found since I added the cervical collar, a couple nights ago, that between the collar and the headgear, I wake up with a
serious case of "bed hair."

[ChicagoGranny]

So here's my report. I ordered the collar, it took 2 days to arrive (thank you Amazon Prime.) My AHI had been between 11 and 16 since I started using the CPAP, about 2 weeks ago now.

First night with the collar, my AHI was 3.3. Last night with the collar my AHI was 2.6. I made no changes except for using the certival collar...I bought a 2 inch one, which seems to be small enough to not be too bothersome and seems not only to keep my head/neck from bending, but also to support my chin.

Also, last night was the longest I've slept, over 8 hours. Before, it was around 6 hours a night. After the sleep study which showed no REM and 82% in Stage II, I figured anything would be better than what I had been getting, but with the addition of the collar, I'm very pleased with the results.

Congratulations on the great results with the spinal collar! My husband and I also use the collars.

I wake up with a
serious case of "bed hair."

Something that is often recommended here - http://www.amazon.com/Buff-100401-Origi ... B000Q07V2Y

It protects the hair from the headgear, but I can't say it eliminates bed hair. YMMV.

[LinkC]

I would do anything for sleep; but I won't do that!

Great! Now that tune will be in my head all night... Lol

[Sheffey]

I have a problem with my head bending toward my chest or sort of sideways toward my shoulder when I'm asleep. I often wake up with my head on my chest or resting on the front of one shoulder. A cervical collar would prevent that, and since I already have a problem with my tongue blocking my airway if I turn my head in one direction, the cervical collar should help a lot. When I'm awake, I keep check on my posture, and try to keep my head in the right position, but when sleeping I have no control, so I'm going to go order a collar now on Amazon. You theory makes perfect sense to me.

You gave a good description of what the collar is doing.

I hope the collar you ordered gives you great relief. Maybe you can post about your forthcoming experience in this thread.

Best of luck!

(I like your user id and pray for a cure for all my friends with MS.)

Thanks for your well wishes. Yes, we'd all like a cure, but since they're still not sure of the cause, I don't think a cure is in the near future. Instead we're offered expensive meds to try to slow it down, the latest and greatest costs close to $6K per month. I'm beyond the recommended use of the MS disease modifying drugs, so that's good news (since I don't have to give myself interferon shots) and bad news because there's no reason to think things will get better. But thanks to symptomatic meds and technology (I have an implanted pump for my spasticity,) I'm still on my feet, which is better than a lot of MS patients.

So here's my report. I ordered the collar, it took 2 days to arrive (thank you Amazon Prime.) My AHI had been between 11 and 16 since I started using the CPAP, about 2 weeks ago now.

First night with the collar, my AHI was 3.3. Last night with the collar my AHI was 2.6. I made no changes except for using the certival collar...I bought a 2 inch one, which seems to be small enough to not be too bothersome and seems not only to keep my head/neck from bending, but also to support my chin.

Also, last night was the longest I've slept, over 8 hours. Before, it was around 6 hours a night. After the sleep study which showed no REM and 82% in Stage II, I figured anything would be better than what I had been getting, but with the addition of the collar, I'm very pleased with the results.

Thanks for the advice.

Congratulations with the great initial results! Maybe you can give us another update after 30 days or so.

All the best,

[bdz]

I just found this post and cannot say thank you enough. I have been a most compliant CPAP user since I started in 2007, yet never experienced the full benefit of the whole thing. Still, I persisted, as it was better than before. Over time, the still poor restorative sleep started to gang up on me and my overall stamina. I started to slide downward in many ways. It is still too soon to really say, but, I will continue using the collar. While my apnea events were never that high, my total night was filled with hypopneas and flow limitations (FP Icon machine data).

The night before last I trimmed the collar and paid the price. What a down day, especially after the 3 energy full days that preceded it. I built it up again with batting and soft material and while it was not quite the same as the first three nights it was better. I just pray it continues as I was reaching rock bottom in being able to push myself through the day. I am a working senior and was at my wits end. Winning the lottery seemed my only way out and that is definitely a guaranteed happening. Now I have an positive alternative. Thanks again!

[2mnycars]

Thanks!
I shall take a look at a soft cervical collar.

last night I didn't use anything under my jaw; lots of leakage.
night before last, I used a custom collar that I've used for a while. I made it from a face pad for a backpack baby carrier, with a strap from an old camera bag. (sorry; no screen shot.)

Thanks Bonjour for your wonderful work with OSCAR!

[2mnycars]

Here's a screenshot showing performance the night before. I made my owns soft cervical collar years ago.

Pad goes on the front of my neck. It's the face pad from a backpack/baby carrier. It's held in place by a strap from an old camera bag. It's very soft.

[2mnycars]

I have a collection of old chinstraps that either
* didn't work (don't know why I kept them then)
* stretched so they don't work anymore (so I can find them again?)

I also have several cushions I bought that were meant to hold my jaw closed while I'm a sleep.

I've had bad luck buying "new things"

I'm intrigued with cervical collars. I'd like to find something that works for me.

DaveL
Toronto

[zonker]

I have a collection of old chinstraps that either
* didn't work (don't know why I kept them then)
* stretched so they don't work anymore (so I can find them again?)

I also have several cushions I bought that were meant to hold my jaw closed while I'm a sleep.

I've had bad luck buying "new things"

I'm intrigued with cervical collars. I'd like to find something that works for me.

DaveL
Toronto

you should be able to find a firm foam cervical collar at your local drugstore. they are kept in the section reserved for me and my fellow old folks. you know, where the crutches and bedpans and such are. usually around 10 or 15 bucks US.

https://www.amazon.com/Core-Products-Ce ... 1583183686

i just picked that on the fly as an example. it's 2" and most folk are going to use a 3". unusual people (dog slobber! BEHAVE!!) like myself or chicago granny use a 4".

you'll get about 2 or 3 months use out of it before it just runs out of enough rigidity to help keep you jaw up. but it's well worth it in my view.

good luck!

[socknitster]

This has been a really interesting thread to read.

Of note: yesterday I read somewhere (maybe on this forum--memory is bad) that chin tucking is thought to be behind aerophagia. Well, I chin tuck. A lot. I tend to curl up around my body pillow, practically in the fetal position. And I have aerophagia even without CPAP. Yes, I sleep on a wedge. Yes, I should see a gastro about silent GERD. I will when the spoons show up--my gp has me going to another round of specialists or to test for something every three months. I swear I'm single-handedly keeping the medical community afloat. It's exhausting. That's what happens when you're diagnosed with something no one understands (CFS/ME).

So, I'm going to try this. Anyone have a favorite brand? One to avoid? I noticed on an Amazon listing that it recommended measuring from the bottom of the chin in the neutral/straight position to the top of the collarbone to determine length.

Seems like it will be worth a try to prevent aerophagia. Will report back with results.

[jimbud]

This has been a really interesting thread to read.

Of note: yesterday I read somewhere (maybe on this forum--memory is bad) that chin tucking is thought to be behind aerophagia. Well, I chin tuck. A lot. I tend to curl up around my body pillow, practically in the fetal position. And I have aerophagia even without CPAP. Yes, I sleep on a wedge. Yes, I should see a gastro about silent GERD. I will when the spoons show up--my gp has me going to another round of specialists or to test for something every three months. I swear I'm single-handedly keeping the medical community afloat. It's exhausting. That's what happens when you're diagnosed with something no one understands (CFS/ME).

So, I'm going to try this. Anyone have a favorite brand? One to avoid? I noticed on an Amazon listing that it recommended measuring from the bottom of the chin in the neutral/straight position to the top of the collarbone to determine length.

Seems like it will be worth a try to prevent aerophagia. Will report back with results.

Amazon:

Soft Foam Neck Brace Cervical Collar, Adjustable Neck Support Brace for Sleeping - Relieves Neck Pain and Spine Pressure White Medium
by Moscare

Nice soft collar.

I have tried several and like this one best. (I am a fairly big guy)
YMMV, as always.

JPB

[ChicagoGranny]

My favorite - https://www.walmart.com/ip/DMI-Firm-Foa ... t/23057188

It's a 4-inch firm foam. It will probably feel very confining when first tried on. But, I fell asleep quickly the first night and slept through.

My APAP pressure runs the lowest with a 4-inch collar. Firm is preferred because it lasts longer. You might want to start out with a 3- or 3.5-inch and work up if necessary.

Amazon has a limited selection of the DMI collars.

[jimbud]

It's a 4-inch firm foam.

Firm is preferred because it lasts longer.

If CGranny is anything, CGranny is firm.

She is also right most of the time.

JPB

[ChicagoGranny]

yesterday I read somewhere (maybe on this forum--memory is bad) that chin tucking is thought to be behind aerophagia.

I wonder why that is? Here is my guess. When the chin is tucked, the airway is more constricted than when the neck is in a posturally correct upright position. In the more constricted position, an APAP will raise the pressure higher. The higher pressure is more likely to penetrate upper and lower esophageal sphincters - aerophagia.

BTW, I have long held a grudge against Lucky Lefty for this video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-65JWNBttnE. It encourages chin tucking. Tucking your chin with pillows as he shows is recommended against by every neck and spine doctor. Sleeping like that long term can cause serious problems in the discs of the neck.

[palerider]

Or not.