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Shoulder Pain When Sleeping

Shoulder Pain When Sleeping

It’s annoying to wake up with shoulder pain when all you wanted was a peaceful night of rest. If you persistently feel discomfort in one or both of your shoulders, you know how much it can mess with your sleep and make daily activities hard to manage. But what gives? Why do our shoulders sometimes hurt while we sleep? And, more importantly, how can we fix the problem?

In this article, we will dig into some of the possible reasons why your shoulders might hurt as you sleep and some potential remedies you can try.

Why Do You Have Shoulder Pain When Sleeping?

There are many reasons why your shoulder might hurt while you sleep. To get to the bottom of your discomfort—an essential step in the relief process—you first need to know what you're up against. 

Poor Sleeping Position

One prime suspect of shoulder pain when sleeping is side-sleeping. While many people find sleeping on the side comfortable, it may compress the structures that live inside and around the shoulder joint. Although the shoulder is a very mobile joint, the mobility comes with the potential for instability, especially if you're pushing down into the mattress with your shoulder joint as you sleep.

Muscle Strain

Lifting heavy objects or repetitive motions can strain your shoulder muscles and cause pain, especially when you go to bed. You may feel shoulder pain from strain more when you lie down and your muscle is at rest.

Rotator Cuff Problems

The rotator cuff combines muscles and tendons that hold the shoulder joint in place. It is a common site where injuries, including tears and tendonitis. Injuries happen in many ways—from overusing and straining. These injuries can cause inflammation and weakness in the shoulder joint, leading to pain whenever you sleep.

Bursitis

The shoulder bursa is a small, fluid-filled sac responsible for cushioning the shoulder. But, if this buras becomes inflamed, it can cause pain and make it difficult for you to sleep.

How to Relieve Shoulder Pain When Sleeping?

Shoulder pain can make sleeping difficult, but various home treatments may reduce the discomfort. These approaches are not cures for the underlying conditions that might cause shoulder pain, such as a torn rotator cuff or shoulder impingement, but they can reduce inflammation and ease the pain in the short term.

One relatively simple treatment is ice therapy. If you have shoulder pain, you should apply ice to the shoulder for 15 to 20 minutes, especially if you plan to try to sleep. The ice can numb the shoulder and reduce inflammation, making it less likely that you will be awakened by pain during the night.

If you experience shoulder pain in Merrick, heat therapy can work wonders and be therapeutic. You might consider applying a heating pad or warm towel to the shoulder just before sleeping to loosen it. Doing so can help with blood circulation, relax the tight muscles, and alleviate a feeling of discomfort. 

However, one should be careful when using ice: no application should last more than 15 to 20 minutes at the longest. If the discomfort continues interfering with sleep, try over-the-counter medicine, like ibuprofen or acetaminophen, to help with the pain.

Good sleep hygiene can also help prevent and alleviate shoulder pain. Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day can help regulate your internal clock. You should also avoid stimulants and electronic devices before bed to enhance your sleep quality.

What is the Best Sleeping Position for Shoulder Pain?

Receiving the right kind of support during sleep can play a major role in reducing shoulder pain. If you are a side sleeper, try wedging a pillow between your knees to help better align your spine and reduce the amount of pressure placed on your shoulder. You could also try putting a small pillow under the arm of the affected shoulder for some additional support. This keeps the shoulder in a more neutral position, which could be key in getting your shoulder to stop hurting when you sleep. 

Another option is to try using a half-body pillow to get more evenly distributed weight. That can help eliminate the kind of shoulder strain that could be keeping you up at night.

If you tend to sleep on your side, you might want to experiment with other positions, like sleeping on your back. Back sleeping relieves pressure on the shoulders and maintains spine alignment. Alternating sides is also a good strategy for sidelyers, since staying too long on one side can create an imbalance.

How Physical Therapy Can Help with Shoulder Pain When Sleeping

Physical therapy in Merrick may be an option if you need something beyond home remedies. Your therapist will develop a treatment plan that may include the following;

Therapeutic Exercises

Your treatment plan will focus on stretching and strengthening your shoulder muscles, which may help improve your range of motion. Your therapist will create an exercise regimen and show you how to safely do the exercises without worsening your shoulder pain.

Manual Therapy

To relieve shoulder tension and inflammation, you can employ manual therapy techniques with the help of a physical therapist. This hands-on treatment involves your therapist applying appropriate techniques to the affected shoulder to ease tension and improve your range of motion.

Activity Modification

Your physical therapist can also provide you with valuable information on how to modify your daily activities in order to prevent further strain and injury to your shoulder. You will learn the proper posture for keeping your shoulders aligned with your spine when walking, sitting, standing, or doing your normal activities.

Conclusion

When shoulder pain interferes with your sleep, at-home remedies may help. However, if your symptoms persist, seeking medical help is necessary. It could be a sign of a serious condition like a torn rotator cuff or frozen shoulder.

A physical therapist can assess the cause of your symptoms to create a tailored treatment program. Ensure you seek medical help if your pain persists for more than a few weeks.

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