Causes Of Shoulder Pain In The Morning
An inflammatory reaction brought on by tissue irritation is most likely the source of shoulder discomfort if you wake up with it and have never experienced shoulder symptoms before. The body’s normal reaction to irritation or injury to any tissue is inflammation, so if you wake up feeling uncomfortable, the position you slept in may have inflamed some of the structures surrounding your neck and shoulder.
It’s crucial to keep in mind that the structural damage to your shoulder is probably small if you didn’t have any discomfort before bed and woke up with it. When you are moving about, reaching for objects, carrying, and lifting, your shoulders are put under extra strain. Even though you could still have symptoms, they might be transient and easily controlled with the right sleep and self-care.
Your sleeping posture may not always be the only factor contributing to shoulder discomfort. Your discomfort may also be caused by other underlying conditions, such as neck pathology, frozen shoulder, rotator cuff involvement, or osteoarthritis.
How Sleeping Positions Affect Shoulder Pain
Humans have a propensity to form and maintain certain habits, such as sleeping schedules. Shoulder pain, however, might result from sleeping in the same posture and following the same pattern each night. Best shoulder pain clinic Dubai highlights the three main sleeping postures and their possible effects in this context.
- Side sleeping: Sleeping on one side over and over again can cause constant pressure between the humerus, the upper arm bone, and the glenoid, the shoulder’s “cup.” The rotator cuff and bursa tendons are located in the subacromial area, which is under pressure. Prolonged compression might cause inflammation in this region.
- Arm over the head: By squeezing and straining the tissues inside the shoulder joint, lying down with your arm above your head can cause strain. This posture may exacerbate pre-existing shoulder issues or cause inflammation. It may irritate peripheral nerves, leading to pain, discomfort, or altered sensation.
- Stomach sleeping: Sleeping on your stomach puts pressure on the spinal joints between the vertebrae because it forces your head to turn to one side. This abnormal alignment can exacerbate pre-existing neck and back pain as well as induce new pain.
How To Avoid Shoulder Pain In The Morning
It’s crucial to understand that most people will experience a reduction in symptoms within the first 48 hours. Nonetheless, some people could still have chronic shoulder discomfort. If you fall into this unfortunate category, we recommend scheduling a visit with a skilled physiotherapist. Shoulder pain specialist in Dubai advises some easy suggestions to help you get a better night’s sleep in the interim:
- Change positions: You might want to change positions if you frequently wake up with a shoulder ache. Try sleeping on the other side or your back. Avoid sleeping on your stomach, as it puts your shoulders over your head, stressing your rotator cuff and subacromial tissues.
- Quarter turn: Sleeping on one’s side with the upper arm immediately beneath oneself might cause pain for certain people. The tendons and bursa in the subacromial region are continuously compressed in this posture. Turning gently onto your front or back relieves the compression.
- Elbow below the shoulder: Sleeping with your arm lifted and your elbow nearer the headboard than your shoulder can cause the subacromial tissues to get compressed and irritated. Try wearing a nightshirt and keeping the irritating arm within the shirt rather than out of the armhole.
- Consider trying a new mattress: It’s important to choose a mattress that isn’t too soft or too firm. It won’t provide enough support to maintain good spinal alignment if it is too soft or too stiff. It is crucial to select a mattress that both cushions the shoulders and maintains the natural curve of the spine.
- Pillow support: A restful night’s sleep depends on having the appropriate pillow.
- A thicker pillow is better for supporting your neck and providing bottom support if you sleep on your back.
- If you sleep on your stomach, use a thin pillow or no pillow.
- A firm, thick cushion that keeps your head level with your shoulders is ideal if you sleep on your side.
Keep in mind that you should replace your pillows approximately every 18 months if they become deformed and no longer provide sufficient support for your head and body.
Symptoms Of Shoulder Pain In The Morning
It’s a beneficial idea to write down the precise feelings you experience and their location if you wake up with a shoulder ache. When you explain your problems to a physiotherapist, this information could be helpful. Distinct shoulder structures may be implicated, as indicated by distinct symptoms. Below is a list of some of these symptoms.
- Upper arm: The rotator cuff tendons and the subacromial bursa are located in the subacromial space of the shoulder, and pain in this area frequently signals irritation or inflammation.
- Neck: Irritation of the joints between the vertebrae may be the cause of pain and symptoms that extend into the neck, causing stiffness and discomfort when rotating the head.
- Top of the shoulder: Side-lying when sleeping causes symptoms unique to the acromioclavicular joint, a little bony protrusion on top of the shoulder. Avoid sleeping on the side that hurts.
- Headaches: Shoulder discomfort can accompany headaches caused by tight neck muscles, problems with the cervical spine, or transferred pain via nerve pathways.
- Modified arm sensation: Shoulder discomfort and sensations like pins and needles or numbness are frequently signs of nerve irritation or compression.
- Weakness of the arm or hand: Irritated muscles around the shoulder or nerves in the neck and shoulder can cause weakness in the hand or arm.
It is important to see a physiotherapist if you have any of the symptoms mentioned above. Shoulder pain doctor Dubai provides expert diagnoses and personalized treatment plans. They are able to identify the issue and inform you of the most effective course of action for a full recovery.
How To Reduce Shoulder Pain
The following changes will help ease shoulder discomfort if you are experiencing it:
- To relieve pressure, try sleeping on your back or the side that isn’t impacted.
- Sleeping with your elbow above shoulder level or your arm beneath your pillow might worsen compression.
- Select a mattress that reduces pressure spots and accommodates your spine’s natural curvature.
- To ensure adequate support, choose a pillow that fits your head and shoulders, and remember to change it every 18 months.
It is advised to see a physiotherapist if the pain continues. PRP therapy for shoulder pain Dubai uses natural healing to reduce inflammation and repair tissue.
Other Possible Causes Of Shoulder Pain
Pain can sometimes be caused by more than simply the way you sleep. There might be more elements at play, such as
Frozen Shoulder
The painful ailment known as adhesive capsulitis, or frozen shoulder, results in inflammation and irritation of the shoulder joint, which makes it stiff and difficult to move. Particularly while resting on the uncomfortable side, people with this disease may have trouble sleeping. When sleeping on your back, it is advised to use a cushion to support your upper and lower arms in order to reduce pain. If you’re sleeping on your side, the sore shoulder should be at the top. Though pain and stiffness might also strike abruptly, it’s crucial to remember that this illness takes time to develop.
Rotator Cuff Injury
Four muscles that stretch from the shoulder blade into the shoulder joint make up the rotator cuff. The arm is stabilized by these muscles. The severity of rotator cuff injuries can vary from partial or whole muscle tears to inflammation of the surrounding tendons. Lying on your back with a cushion beneath the injured arm is the ideal sleeping posture for rotator cuff injuries to reduce discomfort and encourage recovery. The rotator cuff muscles and tendons are less stressed in this position. Since sleeping on the side that is injured might exacerbate the discomfort, it is advised to avoid doing so. You can support your injured shoulder by placing a cushion between your arms while lying on your undamaged side if lying on your back causes discomfort.
Osteoarthritis (OA)
Shoulder osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by stiffness, decreased mobility, and chronic discomfort. By making it difficult to find a comfortable posture and intensifying pain when lying on the afflicted side, these symptoms might interfere with sleep. The ideal posture for neck pain is to lie on your back with a supportive cushion to keep your spine in a neutral position. Shoulder and neck discomfort frequently coexist, suggesting a reciprocal relationship. Avoiding stomach sleeping and using supporting pillows will help reduce stress and improve the quality of your sleep, which may lessen discomfort in both regions.
Neck Involvement In Shoulder Pain
Shoulder and neck discomfort frequently coexist. Shoulder pain is likely to affect your neck, and vice versa. Sleeping in an uncomfortable posture might exacerbate any pre-existing neck issues and create shoulder pain. Depending on your preferred sleeping position, it’s critical to choose pillows that provide enough neck support.
Shoulder Pain Treatment Conclusion
Waking up with shoulder pain is annoying, but the first step to getting better is figuring out what’s causing it, whether it’s an underlying problem or your sleeping posture. Simple changes like a new mattress, supporting pillows, or improved sleeping position usually result in improvements. Shoulder pain physiotherapy Dubai offers targeted exercises to restore strength and mobility. See a physiotherapist at Vitruvian—Italian Physiotherapy Center if your symptoms increase, continue, or involve numbness, weakness, or radiating pain. Shoulder pain treatment near me in Dubai includes advanced therapies for fast and lasting relief. You can lessen discomfort and resume pain-free sleep with the correct diagnosis and treatment.
