Hip pain

[rogere]

I am three weeks into CPAP (ResMed S9 Escape + Mirage Quattro Full Face Mask). After a rocky start I am making progress, getting off to sleep more quickly and on a good night wearing the mask for an average of six hours or so.

However, I am having increasing problems with pain in my hip joints, usually towards the end of the night. This did not start with CPAP. I used to wake up with slight discomfort in my right hip. If I turned over - I usually sleep on my left side - I would go straight back to sleep, with no lasting effects. But the problem has got much worse. One morning when I got up I could barely walk. Even when it's not that bad, I am still left feeling tired.

Might one explanation be that since I am wearing the mask for longer, my sleep is of better quality and I am moving around less?

Does anyone have any suggestions?

[Berneta]

Hip Pain

Hi Rogere, Yes that does happen, along with all kinds of other aches and pains. After starting CPAP I started having terrible backaches--could barely get out of bed in the morning. Sometimes it even migrated down into my hip. I got some good advice from a Sports Doc on the forum. Mild leg and back stretching exercises before bed. It worked wonders. It seems that I was sleeping so sound on the CPAP-- that I just didn't bother to turn over during my hours of sleep, and that caused the tension that caused the pain. A few days after starting some exercises the pain went away, and I found I was waking enough to turn over. I still do the exercises everynight even though I haven't had any pain for months. You can't lay in one position for hours and not feel the effect of it. You can read about it on the "Backaches" thread. The exercises I do are just simple ones. Laying on my back in bed--I do 10 simple leg lifts-- then lift each leg to my chest and back down 10 times--Kick each leg to the side 10 times--and with knees kept together, press both legs to the right and then to the left as far as you can 10 times--then lift both legs and do the splits 10 times. Then I lift both legs together and raise my back to form a V angle and hold for a count of 10. Twisting at the waist before getting into bed and touching right fingers to left foot and vice versa helps stretch the back and hip too. Take it easy starting out and don't over do it. Don't force yourslef if the pain is bad--just do as much as you can. Good Luck x Berneta

[rogere]

Hi Berneta,

Thank you for the detailed advice on exercises - I'll certainly give them a try - and also for pointing me to the Backaches thread. Useful advice in there as well.

I was very pleased to hear the good news about your son.

Best wishes,

Roger