Laying down in bed and falling asleep should be a relaxing experience, but for millions of Americans, unresolved shoulder issues keep them tossing and turning all night. If shoulder pain is making it difficult to fall asleep or it’s causing you to wake up once you’ve fallen asleep, it’s time to consult with a shoulder specialist. Sleep is an incredibly important restorative process for your entire body, and if shoulder pain is inhibiting this process, your whole body will suffer for it.
But what could be causing your shoulder issue that’s causing sleep difficulty, and more importantly, how can you put the issue to bed for good? We tackle those topics and more in today’s blog.
Shoulder Issues Causing Sleep Problems
Shoulder pain that interferes with quality sleep can be caused by a number of different issues, but we’re going to focus on the most common causes that we see in our clinic. Those issues tend to be:
- Bursitis – Shoulder bursitis involves inflammation of the bursa in the shoulder, which is a fluid-filled sac that helps to lubricate and protect the structures in the area. An inflamed bursa can lead to tenderness of the entire shoulder complex, and if you’re a side sleeper, this can lead to an uncomfortable night’s sleep.
- Rotator Cuff Issues – An injury to the soft tissues that help to hold your shoulder joint in place can also cause discomfort at night. These tissues make up your rotator cuff, and acute injury or degenerative wear and tear over the years can make it such that these tissues have a harder time stabilizing the shoulder joint. When you lay down, gravity hits your shoulder in a different direction, slowly pulling it towards the front of your body if you are a side sleeper. These tissues are already weakened as a result of the injury, and now they are tasked with supporting your shoulder joint in a different direction while you’re laying down, which can lead to discomfort.
- Tendinopathy – Repetitive strain and overuse on the biceps tendon, which attaches muscles and bones at the shoulder joint, can lead to shoulder discomfort at night. Tendon deterioration can cause your shoulders to feel stiff and uncomfortable, and these sensations may actually be more noticeable when you’re not performing any major actions, like when you’re laying down at night.
Putting An End To Your Nighttime Shoulder Pain
It’s time to put an end to your nighttime shoulder pain, and the best way to do that is by connecting with an orthopedic specialist like Dr. Holloway. In order to get you set up with the most effective treatment plan, you’ll first need to undergo a comprehensive physical exam. During this exam, your doctor will review your medical history, ask about your symptoms and take a closer look at the shoulder area. They’ll also likely manipulate the joint in different directions or ask you to perform some basic movements.
These tests can help provide some information as to what’s going on in your shoulder, but there’s a good chance your specialist will want to confirm their suspicions with the help of an imaging test. An X-ray, MRI or CT scan are common options for visualizing key internal structures and making a precise diagnosis.
Your treatment will be based on your individual needs, but oftentimes your doctor will recommend a hefty dose of conservative care before considering surgical means. Oftentimes this includes a combination of:
- Rest/Activity Modifications
- Physical Therapy
- Bracing
- Posture Improvements
- Hot/Cold Therapy
- Anti-Inflammatory Medications
Many patients experience significant or complete relief when these techniques are pursued for a number of weeks. However, if more hands-on care is required, your surgeon may be able to administer a corticosteroid injection or perform a minimally invasive corrective procedure. The exact nature of the operation will be based on your underlying issue, but oftentimes the goal is to decompress an inflamed or compressed area so that the structures in the shoulder complex can move more freely, or to strengthen weakened tissues so that they can better support the joint. Most patients will then pursue many of the previously listed conservative treatment techniques over the course of their months-long rehab in order to restore the most function possible in their shoulder joint.
To put your nighttime shoulder pain to rest for good, make it a point to reach out to Dr. Holloway and his team today. Give his office a call at (865) 410-7887.
