Neck pain from straps

Hello everyone,
I'm a new CPAP user on my 4th week of using the machine after years and years of un-officially-diagnosed sleep apnea. I'm having trouble with pain in/on the back of my neck during the night and next morning after I wake up. I know it has to do with how tight I have to keep the straps in order to prevent leaks around the mask. My prescribed pressure is 19 so the straps are going to be tight. The pain is mostly the raw, stinging kind with some associated soreness in the neck muscles. I pinned a soft piece of craft felt around the strap where it touches my neck to ease some of the pain but it doesn't relieve it all. There is one spot in particular that will wake me up in the middle of the night because it is so sharp. I have been rubbing Aspercreme into the back of my neck before bedtime and again when I get up in the morning but it is not a cure-all either. Even though it is painful, I have no intention of stopping the use of the CPAP machine because I can't wait to start feeling better. I don't feel the need to take a nap every day any more although there is the occasional afternoon when I wouldn't mind one. I understand that it can take months before I really feel a big difference so I'm prepared to be patient. I can live with the puffy eyes and the red marks on my face every day but would love to ease the pain in my neck. I'm open to any suggestions anyone has to offer.
Thanks!

Hi, MrsEOCRet, and welcome!



I have this problem, more so earlier on than now, though. Mine is partially from the straps, and partially from how I sometimes tilt my neck in certain positions when wearing the mask. I don't do the neck position thing much anymore, but do sometimes find myself waking up with my head in very strange positions! (I use the Hybrid mask.)

I know you've probably thought about this, but trying a different mask might help, although I'm probably thinking that any FFM would have bottom straps pretty much running in that same position. I've read over and over where the masks are supposed to work better when not real right, but I have never found that to be the case for me. I, though only have a pressure of 8.5, so mine is not nearly as tight as yours, I'm sure.

If you're game to try something that's not full-face, the Nasal Aire II has minimal headgear, and doesn't have any straps at the neck. I would love to use this mask, if only I could adapt to something that's not full-face. It was used on me at my sleep study, and they gave it to me to take home. I try it again every now and then, but so far a non-FF just won't work for me.

I know I probably haven't been much help, so hopefully others will come along with better suggestions!

Pam

I can only suggest you try a different mask. It took me 8 masks in 6 weeks to finally find one that I could sleep with all night, every night. That I didn't have to fiddle with all night. That didn't give me neck pain from sleeping at weird angles.

Also, I HIGHLY recommend you try a memory foam pillow, and learn to sleep with your face dangling off the edge, so your mask floats free. This has greatly helped my neck pain.

There are several ways of trying different masks. Several forum members run free mask test drives. Feel free to check out the links below in my signature line for more information on those.

Good luck!
Barbara

I had this problem for a while and I constantly complained about it on this site, if you look further back. However, I found something. I ordered it. It's called something like Padacheeks. Can't remember the exact name. What it is , it's a padding that goes over the straps and over the headgear. I noticed a big difference and no longer had that bad neck pain. I always thought it was the pillow or mattress, it was neihter. People thought I was crazy, so I totally understand. Try padacheeks. If you want more details send me an email message and I will find it for you.

or you can just pm padacheek... she's a member on here

She's very good at making things comfortable.

You can also contact her thru her website

http://www.padacheek.com

Brenda

Normally I don't have too many issues with neck pain and the straps... but there have been a couple occasions since I've started using CPAP that it seems to be a issue. For me, it seems related to not being able to get my head/neck into a truly comfortable position. When all is well, my neck's not too picky, but if my neck gets tense for some reason (possibly unrelated to CPAP) then it seems it gets really hard to find a comfortable position and it just feeds on itself till I'm miserable.

Normally I've been using a Swift II nasal pillow thing... just today my insurance rolled around such that I was due to be able to get a new mask... The Swift LT looked interesting and seemed to be able to solve my biggest CPAP issue, that being the air tub running up the side of my face, which makes it very hard to sleep on that side, etc...

Well I haven't actually slept with the Swift LT yet... but after putting it on once at the DME place... wow, I'm thinking this thing is going to be a really wonderful change. From the pictures I had seen, it was not clear that the hose actually swiveled 360 degrees... I'm very hopeful that this Swift LT is going to be the answer to my neck pain issues... or at least helpful.