New to CPAP, help x

Good evening , I am new to CPAP treatment and I am finding a few concerning side effects (or what I think are as I didn't have these before CPAP). The first sleep after CPAP I was numb in the thighs and had a nose bleed. I am now about a week into treatment and I have very sore nerve pain in my outer thighs, it is a stabbing pain & my skin feels like its burning. Anyone else had the same or am I alone? If anyone has had this did it pass or did u have another treatment? Any help would be greatly appreciated. L xxx

Lack of humidity could cause nose bleeding, but nerve problems in the thighs? Not related to CPAP.

I would consider sleep position and how long you sleep in one position. CPAP could influence both.
Jim

Somethin'Annie wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 02, 2019 6:23 pm

Good evening , I am new to CPAP treatment and I am finding a few concerning side effects (or what I think are as I didn't have these before CPAP). The first sleep after CPAP I was numb in the thighs and had a nose bleed. I am now about a week into treatment and I have very sore nerve pain in my outer thighs, it is a stabbing pain & my skin feels like its burning. Anyone else had the same or am I alone? If anyone has had this did it pass or did u have another treatment? Any help would be greatly appreciated. L xxx

The closest I've come was that on my first night, I tucked my right arm under my head... I didn't move for 8 hours, apparently, because when I woke up, my arm was still there, and it ached terribly.

It kept hurting for nearly a month, I thought I'd permanently damaged it... So I try to remember to recommend that people get in a good 'not sleeping on any body parts' position for their first night.

(my arm did finally recover).

Thanks for your replies. I am currently waiting on the humidifier for my machine so hopefully nose bleed will subside . As for the nerve pain in the legs, I have spoken to a guy in my place of work who has the same pains, he didn't think anything of it he just thought he was sleeping a weird way or something but surely its not just coincidence he is on CPAP treatment with the exact pains!? I have my appointment for my 1st check up soon so might ask about it then as no reply on the number on the machine. Thanks again for your replies. Lxxx

Cpap has greatly reduced my habit of thrashing around in my sleep.
Lying still for too long can pinch nerves and freeze joints.
A nightly all-over stretch helps me.
The things we learn from our cats.

Exactly as Chunky points out. When you have untreated apnea you are waking constantly during the night even if you are not aware of it, and may be changing your position. Once the apnea is treated you may be sleeping more deeply and moving around less. That can put pressure on nerves and cause numbness and pain. Try sleeping in another position, and use pillows to relieve pressure--i.e. if you sleep on your side you should have a pillow between your knees. Ideally you should not sleep on your back for two reasons--we tend to have more apnea on our backs and secondly it's easier for the mouth to fall open and negate the benefits of CPAP.

The bloody nose is most likely because of dry conditions when you don't use a humidifier. Since the humidifier is integrated into the machine you show on your profile and not a separate unit, I'm surprised it didn't come with your machine in the first place. Why not???

The humidifier itself is built in to the ResMed AirSense 10 machine but some places didn't include the water chamber that is needed for the humidifier to work.

Where are you located?

If you look at a diagram of the nervous system, there are nerves that run to about midway along the outer thigh not far off midline. If your pain is in the same location, trace those nerves back up to the level of the spine for an idea what area needs repositioning.