Bedtime is supposed to be a time when you can recover from the physical and mental stress of the day and allow your body and mind to heal. However, if shoulder pain is present, it can make it very hard for a person to fall asleep and stay asleep, making this quality sleep unattainable. So what are your options if your shoulder pain seems worse at night or it’s affecting your sleep quality? In today’s blog, we take a closer look at some of the reasons why your shoulder pain may be more noticeable at night, and how to treat these problems with the help of a shoulder specialist.
Causes Of Nighttime Shoulder Pain
Shoulder pain that is most noticeable at night or that is interrupting your ability to get quality sleep could be caused by a few different conditions. Assuming you didn’t experience significant trauma to the area, here’s a look at three shoulder conditions that could be making nighttime an uncomfortable experience.
- Bursitis – Shoulder bursitis is a condition that occurs when the bursa, a fluid-filled sac that helps to lubricate the joint and facilitate movement, becomes inflamed. This can lead to swelling and compression on key areas of the shoulder joint. Bursitis can oftentimes rear its ugly head when you’re trying to sleep because you may be putting pressure on the shoulder if you’re sleeping on that side of your body. Sleeping on your side puts stress on the shoulder which can trigger an inflammatory response and continued compression. Bursitis can be uncomfortable at all points of the day, but it can be even more noticeable when you’re sleeping on your side.
- Rotator Cuff Injuries – We’ve talked about rotator cuff injuries a lot on the blog in the past, but that’s because it is a very common injury, especially for active individuals who are now a little bit older who have put plenty of stress on their shoulders over the years. Overuse or repetitive strain can lead to microtrauma and damage to the muscles and tendons that stabilize the shoulder joint. Your rotator cuff may feel sore by the end of the day when you’re ready to lay down for bed, but similar to bursitis, symptoms can worsen if you sleep on that side and irritate the damaged muscles and tendons in the area.
- Tendonitis – A final shoulder issue that can develop and cause problems when you’re trying to fall asleep and stay asleep is tendonitis. Similar to the above conditions, it is brought upon by overuse and repetitive strain, but it involves inflammation of the tendons that help attach muscle to bones in the area. You may notice tendonitis discomfort more easily at night because of your positional change. When you’re lying horizontally, gravity is pulling on your muscles differently, and they’ll end up settling in a different position than when you’re standing up. This change in pressure can aggravate and inflame the shoulder tendons, making the area uncomfortable when you’re trying to fall asleep.
Based on the above descriptions, a simple solution may be to try to avoid sleeping on your bad shoulder, but that’s easier said than done. Some people roll around at night, or they may be experiencing discomfort in both shoulders, making it very hard for them to find a comfortable sleeping position. Others may shift to an armchair where they can avoid lying on either side, but this isn’t a great long-term answer either.
Instead, connect with a shoulder specialist like Dr. Holloway. He’ll begin with a physical exam and then use diagnostic imaging tests to figure out exactly what’s going on in your shoulder. From there, he’ll walk you through some conservative or operative treatments to help strengthen and stabilize the shoulder to minimize your discomfort. He won’t stop until he’s found a solution that is right for you.
We know how important quality sleep is to your mental and physical health, so don’t let a lingering shoulder injury get in the way. Set up a consultation with a shoulder specialist and let us find a solution to your pain. For more information, or for help with a different shoulder issue, give Dr. Holloway and his team a call today at (865) 410-7887.
