How to Stop Waking up with Shoulder Pain

When you wake up in the morning you should be feeling refreshed and ready for the day. Your mind has had a few hours to rest and reboot while your body has been working on growth and repairs.

If you find yourself waking up with shoulder pain there might be something wrong with your joint or rotator cuff!

How to prevent waking up with shoulder pain

The first step in preventing morning pains is identifying the cause. Waking up and experiencing pain or cramping more then 2 morning per week is a warning sign something is wrong (especially if you do not work out)!

Try isolating the cause and changing your nightly routing. Most pain will be localized in one area of the shoulder and likely has an underlying cause you can address.

Other common ways to prevent morning pain in the shoulder

  • Avoid sleeping with your arm under your pillow
  • Sleep on a softer mattress
  • Stretch before bed and after waking up
  • Try sleeping on the floor

Shoulder Pain Causes

Your shoulders take quite a beating while your awake and at night when you are sleeping. There are many reasons why your shoulders might hurt after waking up. The most common reasons for shoulder pains are injury, trauma or bad sleep posture.

Shoulder pain and the Gym

A good session at the gym, focusing on your shoulders is a common cause of morning soreness and pain. Recently visiting the gym is a common cause of shoulder pain when lifting your arms. If this sounds like you try to include some shoulder pain relief exercises into your workout.

Shoulder pain and Trauma

Another potential reason you might be reaching for an icepack after waking up is trauma. Your shoulders protect your inner body from bruising by absorbing incoming blows. As a result simple tasks like helping a friend move can leave your shoulders bruised and sore!

Sleep Position

One of most common reasons you might wake up with sore shoulders or blades is your sleep position. If you fall asleep on your side, in an unnatural position or on an uncomfortable couch you may be in for a rough morning. There are many muscles, nerves and blood vessels that run through the shoulder. Pinching a nerve or blocking a blood vessel is more than enough to cause morning discomfort.

Shoulder Pain Conditions

  • Dislocated Shoulder
  • Rotator Cuff
  • Frozen Shoulder
  • Cancer
    • Lung cancer
    • Breast cancer
    • Liver cancer
  • Arthritis
  • Strains and Tears
  • Shoulder impingement

Shoulder pain diagnosis

  • X-rays
  • Physical exams
  • Shoulder pain while lifting arm

Morning Shoulder Pain Treatments

  • Stretches for shoulder pain and neck pain
  • Icepacks
  • Shoulder pain relief medication
  • Physiotherapy exercise
Marie Seska

Marie Seska

Marie Seska is one of the most trusted sources on the net for sleep information. She searches the web - as well as the latest medical journals to bring her readers the latest news and information.

Leave a Comment