Neck pain

[Oliverwindsor]

Hi everyone, my wife has had MSA for a while now, she also uses a CPAP machine at assist her at night. She is experiencing extreme neck pain and her head has somewhat dropped forward. So my question, has anyone experienced this nasty neck pain, could it be the CPAP machine or more likely, is it part or the MSA problems?

[Yanno]

Hello Oliver, neck and shoulder pain, sometimes called coathanger pain, is a symptom of low blood pressure may be caused through postural hypertension. Another post this afternoon also talks about low blood pressure perhaps have a look at my reply there and also the MSA Trust Factsheet is well worth reading. It can be found here. msatrust.org.uk/wp-content/...

Take care, Ian

[Oliverwindsor in reply to Yanno]

Hi, thanks for that, it’s silly really, to be honest I should have realized, however, to get a second opinion doesn’t hurt. Thank you again, perhaps I should be monitoring her blood pressure more often. Regards.

[Orla789]

Hello Oliver I ave msa and suffer with a very stiff sore neck which I don’t think is related to low blood pressure as my body has been ok so far. I think it’s probably due to muscle weakness and rigidity. I also have lumbar back pain which restricts how long can stand up eg I find I need to sit to brush my teeth. The pain intervention consultant cannot help and thinks it’s due to a dreid out vertebral disc. However I know that this is a frequent symptom for other MSA sufferers so I think it is part of the disease. I don’t (yet) use a CPAP machine.

Wishing your wife some relief.

[TK-67]

my mum has an antecollis, as her muscles contract, it pulls her head forwards, it was the first real indicator that her initial PD diagnosis was wrong. Mum tried botox injections but sadly it didn't help. Occupational therapy and physio may be able to help with coping with it. There is an outside chance if she is still taking parkinsons type drugs that this can make dystonia worse with MSA so worth checking with your consultant.

[binnyrox]

Hi Oliverwindsor

I used a cpap and now a bipap. In the 5 years using it, I have not experienced neck pain from it other than from sleeping in an awkward position

However as my MSA progresses, I have developed a forward head posture which has caused me great discomfort. The therapists explained that the muscles are no longer in balance, some being shortened and other being lengthened unnaturally

I spent quite a while in therapy and with diligent home exercises - it did help with the pain

When the doctor started me on Madopar (levodopa) just a few weeks back, the posture improved remarkly during the "on" periods.

And I took the window when I felt good to do more physical activity. Movement really helps ward off and delay the progression including the forward head posture

I was advised to do a few minutes every hour rather than a heavy session once a day

Hope this helps

[Lou117]

My Mum was experienced very bad ‘coat hanger’ pain particularly in her shoulders. She now has a Buprenorphine patch which has helped her greatly. She also uses paracetamol and ibuprofen when needed.