Do you think there is a connection?
 

About a month ago I went back on my CPAP (continuous positive air pressure for my sleep apnea). :mad: (hate/hate relationship) The dark circles under my eyes have improved; however, now I have a new problem.

Since my MS dx one year ago the constant numbness has been contained in my left arm and some in my face; however, it has recently "leaked" over to my right fingers and gradually up the arm.

Occasionally while seated in my computer chair I put my arms up and lock my fingers behind my head. In about a minute my right bicep starts to visibly jump around. The spasm goes away as soon as I stop the slight forward pressure on my neck, where my marble-sized lesion is.

So, I wonder if the CPAP strap is having the same effect on my neck: is that why the numbness has spread? Is it a plausible theory or not?

Now I don't know if I should sleep with the thing or not. :confused:

I don't know, Ro.

I suppose it depends on how much pressure the CPAP is puttingon you neck.

It is worth looking into.

-Vic

(((TWINK)))
My numbness was limited to my right side for a long time, then spread to my left hand. Now both hands have a lot of numbness (I too have a lesion in my cervical spine)..I've never noticed if pressure on my neck makes a difference one way or the other, but may be worth checking out.
Now, don't go using this as an excuse not to use the CPAP..;)

could it be that you are feeling better now, and are able to more fully appreciate other issues that have been riding you, now that your brain has been getting the O2 it requires to keep your butt alive at night?

I find that when I am very sleep deprived a building can fall on me, and I am extremely slow to react. You start to cut off things in your view that are not directly related to getting to the next step. Once I get some sleep behind me, I start noticing the fall out from not having slept in so long.

Do you do chiropractic? I LOVE my chiropractor. when my arms are numb, and my hip is twisted she pops me right back into shape.

:hug:

I would call the person/medical supply place that fit you to the mask and see what they suggest.

As a CPAP wearer for about 12 years I would think the strap shouldn't cause that much pressure and if it did you would probably only feel that numbness while mask is on and shortly after taking it off. Kind of like sleeping on your arm then when you change position the feeling comes back.

I have been trying to train myself to sleep other ways, because I get vertigo (positional) and I choke if I lay any other way but on my right side. My body gets so sore sleeping the same way all the time (been doing this for about 10 yrs now, 12+hrs a day), so I am trying to learn to ignore the vertigo and live with the choking . . .

I was mentioning to my neuro a few weeks ago, that I notice that when I sleep on my back, my hands are more numb when I wake up. She said "perhaps sleep another way then". :rolleyes: :p

I too have cervical lesions, that cause l'hirmettes when I bend my neck forward, and cause a warm flushing feeling on my right side of my body when I turn to the right. She said that the numbness in my hands is another l'hirmettes-type thing, causing numbness to my hands. She asked if my pillow is high, which it has been slightly . . . so that I don't choke as much. She said that angle of my neck (combined with the lesions) could be causing the numbness when I wake up.

Her suggestion has helped with the numbness (but not for choking :rolleyes:), and I am using a flatter pillow when I sleep on my back now.

So, it seems very possible that the pressure, or weight, or sleeping position (+ C-spine lesions) can cause these symptoms. Maybe you could try adjusting things to see if it changes the outcome.

Cherie

I don't know if there is a relation or not, but I don't use a cpap machine, and my numbness has spread from my feet, and throat, to my lungs, hands, and arms,as well as my back and tongue. I think the spreading part is normal. Just to be sure, is there a way to reposition the cpap for a night? I've never seen one.

Hope the jumping and tingling goes away for you.