Neck and mid upper back pain when using bilevel

[nixynic]

Does anyone know why my husband would get neck and back pain while using his bilevel machine?  He is using a dreamwear nasal mask and chin strap.   The minute he takes the mask off the pain dissipates.

[OpalRose]

nixynic,
It may may the chin strap. A chin strap should not push the jaw back which may be what’s happening. The strap should gently push the jaw upwards.

Also, the problem could be with your husband’s sleeping pillow. It’s either too flat or too tall.
A pillow should support the neck to keep it aligned. If the pillow isn’t supporting the neck properly, you will notice it in your upper back and shoulders.

[Sleepster]

Does anyone know why my husband would get neck and back pain while using his bilevel machine?  He is using a dreamwear nasal mask and chin strap.   The minute he takes the mask off the pain dissipates.

Does he have a history of neck pain? Like, maybe he wore one of those night guards to prevent teeth grinding and clenching?

My thought is that the chin strap is pushing his jaw inwards and he is fighting it by clenching his teeth?

Your profile states he's wearing a full face mask? But you say he's wearing a nasal mask with a chin strap.

I would try a full face mask. Of course, there's no need to wear a chin strap with a full face mask.

This can be introduced as a temporary measure, just to see if it fixes the problem. You can always go back to the nasal mask and try a different brand of chin strap.

I would like to see his leak rate graph so I can examine it for signs of mouth-leaking. If indeed he is still mouth-leaking with a chin strap then he will need to switch to a full face mask, anyway. It will improve his quality of sleep and he'll feel better and more rested during the day.

[StevesSp]

I often suffer mid/upper back pain when using my CPAP machine. It often comes with reflux-like symptoms. I suspect it's a symptom of aerophagia because it was worse when I used to use higher pressure (before I lost some weight).

My suspicion is that CPAP inflates the esophagus and this compromises the flap valve that normally prevents reflux. One of the well-known symptoms of severe reflux is back pain.

Of course, this doesn't explain your partner's neck pain, so in his case, this might be muscular. Perhaps he has adapted his posture in order to control his mask and tube, in such a way as to cause muscle tension?