Body soreness

One of the effects I've seen from starting my therapy almost a month ago is that I don't toss and turn very often. In fact, I've gone from not sleeping on my back to sleeping in that position for a good chunk of the night. Due to this lack of movement, I've been getting some soreness around areas that I would call pressure points -- primarily my shoulder blade and hip if I'm sleeping on my side, and my lower back if I sleep on my back. I already sleep on a good memory foam mattress so it's not the springs that are digging into my body like my last mattress.

Did anyone go through this phase when they started therapy? Is this something that is temporary? Thanks for your help.

Yes. I thought my hips were going to seize up and never move again. However I had an older very firm coil mattress and I added egg crate foam topper and two quilts to help out.

You need to be aware of your position and how it is torqued. If you are sleeping on your side put a pillow under your upper knee so that your hips stay in line with your spine. For your shoulder, get a good neck supporting pillow. Often the pain is from muscles put under strain because they are pulled for a long time in a position and they are not used to it. If you are on your back, put a pillow under your knees and support your neck.

Supporting your neck is very important. I visited my daughter who also had a new memory foam mattress and ended up in a lot of pain until I rolled a towel into the pillow to support my neck.

pablomac wrote:Due to this lack of movement, I've been getting some soreness around areas that I would call pressure points -- primarily my shoulder blade and hip if I'm sleeping on my side, and my lower back if I sleep on my back.

Hi,

I had a lot of soreness in my hips from sleeping on my side. I visited an Orthopedic doctor, and learned about these things called bursa sacs. I was shown some exercises that helped. Doing exercise in general also helped considerably in addition to these localized exercises. The other thing that helps a lot is memory foam, but you already have that.

This sometimes goes away on its own as people get more time using the machine. If not, then try to isolate where the soreness is, and perhaps you can find some exercises that will treat that specific item. If that doesn't help, then perhaps it is time to visit someone in orthopedics.

-john-

BlackSpinner wrote:For your shoulder, get a good neck supporting pillow. Often the pain is from muscles put under strain because they are pulled for a long time in a position and they are not used to it. If you are on your back, put a pillow under your knees and support your neck.

I've been thinking of this as well. I usually sleep on a couple of pillows to get enough "elevation" but they tend to flatten out after only a couple of months. I've been thinking of getting a memory foam pillow with some kind of neck support. The problem is that the prices and brands vary so much that I haven't actually done it. I've seen some at Costco that seem like a good deal -- maybe I just need to finally take the plunge. Anyone have a memory pillow to suggest? Thanks.

Try the contour brand pillow in thick size. Also more stretching during the day.

yep, I've got the same issue... I tend to sleep on my right side for the majority of the night and eventually my hip begins to ache.

Changing the type of bed pillow and inclining the bed did not help me... but it may work for you

Dave

When I first started sleep apnea treatment, I was sore all over... in the morning. I assumed it was because I slept on one position a lot longer than I used to, prior to apnea treatment. I had an old mattress, so I bought a Temperpedic. Then I had soreness issues with the Temperpedic all over again... for the same reason. For me, it only lasted a week or two (each time). For whatever it's worth, its a subtle, but a sure sign, that the apnea treatment is working for you. You'll see a lot of physical changes once your body starts to adjust to proper apnea treatment:

- sore body (sleeping in one position longer... without tossin' and turnin')
- Losing weight, dropping your sugar levels (if you are diabetic), lower blood pressure
- more energy... less sleepiness during the day... less sleep requirements... less nappin'... more patience
- better memory... more concentration
- better overall health

Probably more "stuff"

Sheriff

Ps: that hat in your Avatar would look much, much, better if it had an Astro emblem on it. Just sayin'....

Since starting CPAP, all of the bruise marks on my arms from my wife elbowing me to stop snoring have all healed.



Dave

Before CPAP, I never slept long enough or deeply enough to notice we were "sleeping" on a torture device.
We had to buy a new mattress. Even a cheap memory foam is like heaven to me.

I had an expensive Tempurpedic mattress for 9 years. I was sore and slept terrible on it. (I attributed it to getting old).
Then I got into the mattress business. I learned what to look for in a mattress. I now sleep on a 14" mattress that has
6" of dunlop latex. I sleep like a baby now. Latex is the way to go! It does not make you hot, it supports and it outlasts
anything else. (You want good support and alignment). You don't want "the hammock" effect.