How To Sleep With Shoulder Pain

January 31, 2023

Do you constantly struggle with shoulder pain that keeps you up at night, tossing and turning?

You are definitely not alone.

Shoulder pain is a common source of discomfort for many people. Getting sufficient restorative sleep can be especially difficult when dealing with such a painful issue.

The inability to get comfortable while trying to relax can be frustrating but be assured that relief is possible!

In this blog post, we’ll explore how to sleep with shoulder pain so that you can wake up feeling refreshed and ready for the day each morning without pain interrupting your sleep.

How To Sleep With Shoulder Pain

Sleeping Position

When you sleep with shoulder pain, making sure your sleep position is correct is key in order to prevent further pain and discomfort.

The best sleeping positions when dealing with shoulder pain involve sleeping on the good shoulder and keeping a pillow between the knees to ensure that both sides of the body are supported.

Sleeping on your back is also an effective way to sleep with shoulder pain, as it helps support the spine, arms, and neck. Maintaining these areas in a neutral position supports the muscles, allowing them to rest and recover throughout the night.

Taking the time to understand which sleep position best suits you and your shoulders will help ensure relief from uncomfortable shoulder pain throughout the night.

Pillows And Mattresses

It is also recommended to sleep on a mattress that can support your spine’s natural curves, as this will put less stress on your shoulders.

Pillows are also an important choice to support your neck and head in an aligned position throughout the night.

You could also try placing a rolled-up towel or a sleep wedge under the painful shoulder for added comfort.

Ice Or Heat Therapies

Research has shown that using either ice or heat therapy can help to sleep with shoulder pain.

Ice therapy applies cold compresses or ice packs directly to the injury and reduces swelling, while heat therapy offers a soothing sensation that can ease discomfort.

Additionally, they both work toward increasing blood flow in the veins and easing tension from tight muscles.

By strategically applying ice or heat therapy throughout the day and before sleep, people struggling with shoulder pain can stay asleep longer due to improved circulation and reduced inflammation.

As a bonus tip, you could take a hot bath or shower for heat therapy before you sleep. Taking a hot shower before bed can help relax the muscles, allowing for improved blood circulation which helps reduce inflammation and discomfort.

Stretching Before Sleep

Stretching before sleep provides tension relief in the muscles and joints.

This can help provide better sleep, especially for those dealing with shoulder pain or sleeping with shoulder pain.

Stretching helps the muscles relax, allowing them to sleep more comfortably without having any tightness during sleep that can prevent the body from getting into a state of deep sleep.

Additionally, stretching before sleep can also improve general joint mobility which can help reduce any existing shoulder pain.

Doing stretches that focus on the neck, shoulders, and chest area should provide even more relief when done before you go to bed.

Physical Therapy For Shoulder Pain

Shoulder pain can be a problematic symptom to deal with, narrowing your shoulder’s range of motion and severely limiting the activity you are able to do.

Physical therapy treatment has proven to dramatically reduce shoulder pain, particularly if it is caught early.

Physical therapy is a form of rehabilitation that works to reduce pain, improve range of motion, prevent further injuries, and develop strength.

With patience and commitment, physical therapy helps many individuals regain control of their shoulder health and reduce or eliminate shoulder pain altogether.

At Kriz Physical Therapy we’re currently offering a free shoulder pain discovery session at our Bonita Springs clinic where we can finally get to the root cause of your shoulder pain and create a personalized physical therapy program to give you the best chance of making a full recovery so you can enjoy life pain-free.

To arrange your free shoulder pain discovery session, you can fill in our simple web form, or if you prefer to talk on the telephone you can call us on 239-992-6700.