Do you find sleeping difficult or impossible at night because your shoulder hurts? There could be different causes of this problem, but the good news is that there are many things you can do to find relief.
If you are tired of asking yourself, “Why does my shoulder hurt when I lay down?” here are six possible explanations.
Sleeping position
The pain you feel in your shoulder when you lie down could simply be caused by your sleeping position. When you sleep on your side, especially when you always sleep on the same side, this puts some pressure on your shoulder.
Your shoulder has to bear the weight of your upper body; over time, this could result in soreness and pain.
Try sleeping on the other side, your back or your stomach, to see if the pain will stop.
Rotator cuff injury
The tendons and muscles that connect the bone of your upper arm to your shoulder blade are called the rotator cuff. A rotator cuff injury happens when the tendons become irritated, inflamed, or damaged.
If you have recently suffered a bad fall, your shoulder pain could be caused by a rotator cuff injury. This could also be the case if you play a sport such as tennis or a baseball or if you frequently have to lift heavy objects.
The symptoms can include pain in your shoulder, stiffness, and loss of range of motion. Consult a physiotherapy expert for more information.
Shoulder bursitis
Bursae are fluid-filled pads that cushion your joints. Whenever a bursa becomes inflamed, this is what we call bursitis.
If you often have to perform repetitive movements, the pain you feel when you lie down could be caused by shoulder bursitis.
The symptoms can include swelling, redness, stiffness, aching, or tenderness. When you have shoulder bursitis, the pain you feel will get worse whenever you move your shoulder or whenever you apply pressure to the area by laying down in bed, for example.
This is because laying down puts more pressure on the inflamed bursa.
Tendinitis in your shoulder
Whenever a tendon gets inflamed, this is called tendinitis. And if some tendons in your shoulder are inflamed, this could explain the pain you feel when lying down.
Shoulder tendinitis can be caused by a sports injury, repetitive movements, lifting heavy objects, or overhead work. Falling on an outstretched arm can also result in shoulder tendinitis.
The symptoms can appear suddenly, but they can also develop over time. They include pain that worsens at night, swelling, stiffness, and weakness in the affected shoulder.
Frozen shoulder
If your painful shoulder has been immobilized for a long time due to an injury or surgery, you could have developed a frozen shoulder. The real name for this condition is adhesive capsulitis.
A frozen shoulder happens when the tissues in your shoulder joint get thicker and tighter. It then becomes more difficult for your shoulder joint to move properly.
The symptoms of this condition include pain, stiffness, and a limited range of motion.
Shoulder impingement syndrome
Finally, perhaps your shoulder hurts because of shoulder impingement syndrome when you lay down at night. This syndrome is also called a swimmer’s shoulder, as it’s common for swimmers to develop it.
This syndrome happens when the soft tissues around your shoulder rotator cuff rub on other tissues or bones when you move your arm. This can result from bursitis, tendinitis, bone spurs, and bone projections that can develop as we age.
The symptoms of shoulder impingement syndrome include weakness in your affected shoulder and constant pain. This pain usually worsens at night and whenever you lift your arm above your head.
How can I prevent shoulder pain at night?
Now that you might have a better idea of what could be causing this pain in your shoulder when you lay down, it makes sense to ask yourself what you can do to prevent it.
If you suspect that you have an injury, inflammation, or a painful syndrome, you should consider speaking with a healthcare professional so they can recommend you some treatment.
Sleeping position
Change your sleeping position, so you don’t lay down on your painful shoulder. Sleep with your upper body propped up by pillows to reduce pressure on your shoulder
Exercises
Exercise regularly to keep your muscles strong. Do some gentle shoulder stretches too.
Other remedies
Take over-the-counter pain medication. Avoid lifting heavy objects and making repetitive motions during the day