UPPER BACK PAIN

BarryKaraoke · Post by **BarryKaraoke** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 11:18 am

sleeper1000 wrote:I'm new to CPAP and have a REMSTAR auto A flex. I have a new, firm matress and a back pillow.

If you are new to CPAP and have a new mattress & pillow...how do you know the CPAP is at fault and not the mattress?

insomnipap · Post by **insomnipap** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 4:03 am

I wake up every morning in agony.
I sleep less and less as time goes by.
I am waking up earlier and earlier.
Its almost getting to be pointless to go to sleep at all.
The pain goes away about an hour after i wake up.
this has been going on for about a year now.

I switch sides throughout the night.
Before cpap i slept on my stomach.
Does anyone have any advice for me.

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 5:55 am

[quote="insomnipap"]I wake up every morning in agony.
I sleep less and less as time goes by.
I am waking up earlier and earlier.
Its almost getting to be pointless to go to sleep at all.
The pain goes away about an hour after i wake up.
this has been going on for about a year now.

I switch sides throughout the night.
Before cpap i slept on my stomach.
Does anyone have any advice for me.

sleeper1000 · Post by **sleeper1000** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 6:35 pm

The pain goes away about an hour after i wake up.
this has been going on for about a year now.

The pain is the same for me. It dissipates in about an hour after waking up. Sometimes my right arm will hurt at the elbow and wrist so badly it seems to wake me up.

The only theory that seems to make sense (posted on another board) was the body going into a deep sleep and the muscles relaxing and the body not moving as much. I had my pressure set higher recently and noticed that the pain increased as well but along with that came vivid dreams which are supposed to be associated with deep sleep. I doubt this is detrimental to health but yes, the pain is terribly annoying.

BP · Post by BP » Wed Mar 26, 2008 10:09 am

Greetings. I had upper and mid back pain for the first 6 months or so after starting cpap. Also, ear pain, pain when breathing, and other things I have forgotten.

Firstly, a lot of people, me included, are very caught up in the cpap experience when you first start. Cpap can create new pains and sensations that you never had before. I have found that a lot of this has to do with the fact that your body is resting much longer in the same position, where it used to move around a lot since you were waking up constantly.

Unless you have extreme pain (in which case you should immediately see your doctor), try to go with the flow. The most important thing is the therapy. Let your body adjust. After a year or so you will forget you had most of these issues.

I also found that because I had more energy I began to exercise more and lost some weight. That made me feel much better.

I found it took over a year to completely adjust, and I'm still seeing small changes even after 2 1/2 years.

Take care,
BP

Wayne HASTIE · Post by **Wayne HASTIE** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 8:14 pm

I started using my CPAP last August. Whilst I wouldn't be without it I do wake up with an almightly pain in the upper back after 6 & 1/2 hours of sleep.

I do not get the pain if I do not use the CPAP machine.

I have spoken to my doctor (who has done all form of tests) as well as the sleep specialist - they can find nothing wrong.

I find after I have taken the machine off and walked around for about 1 Hr. the pain goes away. I can then go back to sleep for a few more hours.
Not the best but all I can do.

Appears to be related to the use of the CPAP machine.
I would also be interested to hear of any worthwhile remdies.

John, RN · Post by **John, RN** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 1:27 am

I sleep with a very thin pillow under my upper chest and this seems to help a lot (I sleep on my side). After switching to mirage activa nasal mask (when im not sick or have sinus infection), I have slept a bit better, as it puts up with turning a bit. The big plus to nasal masks is less mouth dryness. Also dont stay in the bed too long, sleep 6-8 hours then get up and excersize! You'll feel a lot better.

GrumpyInKC · Post by **GrumpyInKC** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 4:43 pm

I happened across this after doing a search on back pain. I hope this is germane to the discussion.

I've been using a CPAP for about 2 years now and the pain is driving me crazy. I had some back pain after using the cpap for about 3 months. I attributed that to being able to sleep on my back, something I hadn't done in the previous 10 years. It would wake me after about 6 hours so it didn't bother me too much.

For the last 6 months or so the pain starts after about 3 hours and I'm only able to go back to sleep after switching to a side. After about 30 minutes to 1 hour the side that I'm laying on (chest, hips, shoulder, etc) will begin to ache and I'll have to switch sides. Then that side will begin hurting after about 15 to 30 minutes, and the times progressively get shorter until I can no longer sleep after about 5 hours.

I thought it could be my mattress, until I went on vacation and experienced the same problem on two more beds.

I'm beginning to think mine is due to oxygen depletion from not inhaling/exhaling fully. This morning while lying awake in pain I concentrated on taking deep breaths and the pain lessened.

brandyII · Post by **brandyII** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 5:00 pm

I'm new to this forum but I've been using my CPAP/mask for about 8 months now and posted prior to having cervical pain. I don't really have any pain that I wake up with and it's not my upper back but since I've been wearing the mask I get pain moving my neck from side to side and it hinders my driving a bit.

People have written back about this and someone suggested there was a special pillow for CPAP users and another thought that you might unintentionally stiffen your muscles just because you don't want to mess up the mask/machine set up you know what I mean?

Anyway keep posting, there's got to be others out there who suffer with the same thing you do. Also a side note, which I've posted prior on a different thread, I had pain in my forehead, right side, a tearing right eye, pain in the bottom of my head, right side and sore neck as I explained above, went to the doctor and I told them right off I thought it was CPAP related and my doctor told me I had shingles and put me on a herpes medication and sent me to the eye doctor to make sure there was no damage and the eye doctor thought I might have some type of viral infection and gave me drops.

Before I even went to the doctor I called my resp. therapist and asked if this could be caused by the machine/mask etc... and they were like "oh no, never heard of that before" Anyway we need to be our own advocates and also the forum should be a safe place where people can discuss their problems and get advice in return. So far I have not had a problem with this and sorry you have. Thanks, brandyII

SleepyNoMore · Post by **SleepyNoMore** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 6:49 pm

I had upper and middle back pain when I first started cpap therapy and it hurt like he*! to say the least. I never went to see my doctor bcause My forum members here had almost all experienced the same thing when first starting their therapy as well. My lungs quit hurting after a few weeks and after they gave me the auto machine rather than the straight cpap.

It will get better, just try to hang in there for a few weeks and if that dosen't get better, go see your sleep doc again and ask for an auto...

Stinsle · Post by **Stinsle** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 8:37 am

I, too have had back pain. It is in the middle on the left side. Hurts like crazy. I went to urgent care, it hurt so bad. They checked me for kidney stones. The could't figure out what was going on. I started using the cpap at the end of Jan 08. The pain started about one month later. It is getting better, but it is still there. Can't lay on my left side. without the pain starting.

I see my sleep doctor on Monday. I have lot's to say to him. The back pain will be one thing. I really have no information about my apneas. I was just told that I have mild sleep apnea and that I need to use cpap. that is so not like me to not ask questions or get more information. I think that I was in shock!

Pineapple · Post by **Pineapple** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 8:59 am

Blame it on sleep deprivation - I do. How do you think they pawn off so many inaduquate machines on people.

brandyII · Post by **brandyII** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 12:36 pm

I've checked my checkbook, best calendar, and I went to see the doctor on 2/1/08 and had been suffering with the neck and head pain prior to that time so it's been a while. I also had the eye thing and that's cleared up so it's a non-issue to me now and yes I did see the eye doctor and I'm fine in that area.

I just called the chiropractor to make an appointment and they want me to go through the "welcome" meeting first next week before they x-ray you and before they treat you so I decided that might not be the best thing to do right now, lol.

So I'm trying to get a referral for an xray from my primary to see what the H%$$## is going on. I know they can tell from an x-ray usually what is wrong with your neck or back etc.... but what about the head pain on the right side of my forehead. Can they x-ray your head for that? I know I sound stupid but I really don't know. It's doesn't appear to be in a sinus area so I don't know what it is. Someone told me once that you can get "cluster" headaches but it doesn't really feel like a headache. Anyone know what I'm talking about? Maybe I am crazy, Anyway if anyone has any info on x-rays with the forehead area let me know, thanks brandyII.

UPPER BACK PAIN

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Additional Comments: Solo LX CPAP as backup/HC 150 Humidifier, using the Aussie heated hose too!!