In my hospital, patients frequently tell me they have shoulder pain that interferes with their sleep, says Dr Tilak Mahesh. They say that, despite trying to sleep on different sides, they still experience pain. In some cases, pain is worsened by raising the arms or shifting the body from one side to the other. Some patients say that they experience symptoms like numbness, tingling sensation in the fingers or muscle spasms.
The shoulder is said to be one of the most flexible joints in the human body that can move in almost all directions. As a result, it is more prone to injuries. Additionally, painful conditions can develop due to repetitive shoulder movements or overuse from a particular activity. Any shoulder motion that involves repetitive actions can lead to an overuse injury, but throwing sports like tennis, cricket and baseball are particularly dangerous.
Shoulder pain at Night Hours
Shoulder pain, especially during nighttime, is commonly seen in patients with specific shoulder problems like tendon or muscle tears, poor posture, overexertion, repetitive work injuries and ageing.
They eventually result in tendinitis, bursitis, tendinosis, shoulder impingement, rotator cuff tears and capsulitis. All of these problems can result in shoulder stiffness, inflammation and pain.
Tendinitis – It is an inflammatory condition of your tendons. They attach your muscles to the bone. Tendinitis is most commonly seen around the tendons of your shoulders, wrists, knees and heels.
Tendinosis is a degenerative condition of the tendon’s collagen due to chronic overuse; overusing the tendons without giving them rest and time to heal, like repetitive strain injury, results in tendinosis. Even tiny repetitive movements like clicking a mouse can also result in tendinosis.
Shoulder impingement – It is a painful condition and occurs as a result of impingement of the bursa or tendons in the shoulder.
Bursitis – Bursitis is a painful condition caused due to the inflammation of the small fluid-filled sacs called bursae. They are responsible for cushioning your joints’ bones, tendons and muscles. Bursitis most commonly occurs in the shoulder, elbow, and hip.
Rotator cuff tears – A rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons in your shoulder joint. They stabilize the joint and help you lift and rotate your arm. A tear in the rotator cuff muscle results in pain and many other complications.
Osteoarthritis – Shoulder osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease in which the cartilage and other tissues in the shoulder joint slowly break down. It is a painful condition, and slowly mobility & some function of the shoulder joint will be lost as friction increases.
Frozen shoulder – Often, it is called adhesive capsulitis and involves shoulder joint stiffness and pain. Immobilizing shoulder, ageing, diabetes, heart disease etc., put you at more risk of a frozen shoulder.
Why do I have shoulder pain at night only?
The causes of nighttime shoulder pain are often unclear, but many of them stem from the following:
- Being still at night
- Day-long tension and stress unrelieved
- Positions in which you sleep
- The mattress you choose
You actively use the shoulder in an upright position during the day. As gravity pulls down on the tendons, space is created in the shoulder muscles. As a result of this additional space, more blood can flow, and oxygen can be delivered, alleviating the stiffness and pain otherwise experienced.
As you sleep or rest at night, you usually lie horizontally. By doing so, gravity is removed, allowing the shoulders to relax. As a result of the lack of movement, the fluids in your joints settle, causing the blood flow to slow down, causing inflammation. Also, sleeping on the shoulders can worsen inflammation because it further compresses the joint.
How to get relief from shoulder pain at nighttime
- Change your sleeping position to one that is more comfortable
- Maintain a consistent sleep schedule
- Stretch your shoulders at night to alleviate shoulder pain
- Exercise regularly
- Try yoga poses
How to manage shoulder pain at home
To begin with, swelling and pain need to be reduced. Try these things at home:
- Inflammation can be reduced with the help of anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen, naproxen etc.
- Take a nap in a recliner
- Apply ice or heat to the affected area to reduce swelling and pain
- A compression sleeve is also helpful in managing the problems
- Stop doing activities that require overusing your shoulder
Shoulder pain at night may be relieved by these natural home remedies, but if they don’t work, you may want to consult a pain specialist. The doctors can determine what is causing your shoulder pain. They may suggest conventional treatments if injuries or fractures do not cause chronic pain.
Other treatments to manage shoulder pain at night include:
- Physical therapy
- Chiropractic care
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
- Steroid injections
- Surgery — suggested only in cases of severe shoulder pain at night
The Orthopaedic Specialist in Kurnool, Dr Tilak Mahesh, offers all orthopaedic treatments for shoulder pain. If you experience shoulder pain that does not seem to improve, schedule your appointment by calling 9885298383 or using the request an appointment form.
