Shoulder pain when sleeping

[Bob lincs]

Has anyone got any advice on shoulder pain when sleeping? I am struggling to sleep as I usually end up on my side with my arm up under my pillow which is results in my shoulder feeling locked and painful to move , I’ve been trying to sleep with my arms down by my sides by this is no better and still get an ache in my shoulders and often pins and needles in my hands .

 

[tullah]

First port of call for aches and pains is a private physio. GPs are pretty useless in that area.

 

[benny6910]

I’ve had physio on trapped nerves in my neck/ shoulders in the past. One little exercise is stand against a wall arm straight out to your side and touch the wall with your fingertips. Then push the palm of you hand towards the wall to stretch out. Only do it 3 times a day. Might not help you but be worth a try.

 

[Mur Huwcun]

Pillow lengthways under shoulder ish like if you were hugging it. But first you need to address the issue? I went to GP with similar and blood tests showed lack of B12!!!

 

[cowboysupper]

Find a good chiropractor if you feel like something skeletal is out of line and hitting a pressure point. Personally had more success with the chiropractor over a physio when it comes to my own injuries but everyone is different.

 

[Rookie]

Just had similar. Turned out I'd torn a couple of tendons in my shoulder. Been putting up with it for over a year before going to doctors. Sent me for mri scan and resulted in surgery. Just had arm in sling for 6 weeks, then meant to be off work for 3 to 4 months. Still having to sleep flat on my back though. So could be more than just a trapped nerve etc.

 

[S J H]

Has anyone got any advice on shoulder pain when sleeping? I am struggling to sleep as I usually end up on my side with my arm up under my pillow which is results in my shoulder feeling locked and painful to move , I’ve been trying to sleep with my arms down by my sides by this is no better and still get an ache in my shoulders and often pins and needles in my hands .

I had what sounds similar, private physio had made it a lot easier she thinks it was the rotacuff. I couldn’t put my arm down quickly, or reach much above my head, it’s still weaker but no trouble sleeping now.

 

[Muddyroads]

I had similar a few years ago, extreme shoulder pain etc resulting in very bad sleep. Several trips to a well regarded osteopath only gave temporary relief until recommended to a good chiropractor. He immediately diagnosed neck issues, possibly brought on by long hours hedge trimming. The main tell tale symptom is the pins and needles in your hand, which I was told was due to pressure on the nerve where it exits the spine in the neck (between C3 and C4 vertebrae if I remember correctly). Manipulation put it right very quickly.
I use a memory foam pillow when I start to get issues now which has a dip in the middle, this seems to help sort things out. Ibuprofen can also help reduce swelling pressing on the nerve but it won’t solve the problem.

 

[zero]

I've similar problems but a memory foam mattress topper helped quite a bit.

 

[puppet]

Sounds like the start of a frozen shoulder. Tendons get inflamed after minor injuries so regular Ibuprofen and Google some shoulder exercises. Mostly lasts a few months then improves.
I had similar and nights were worse than days

 

[ISCO]

Just had similar. Turned out I'd torn a couple of tendons in my shoulder. Been putting up with it for over a year before going to doctors. Sent me for mri scan and resulted in surgery. Just had arm in sling for 6 weeks, then meant to be off work for 3 to 4 months. Still having to sleep flat on my back though. So could be more than just a trapped nerve etc.

I have this is one shoulder although physio has made it a lot better.
My other shoulder suffers from crystallisation in the tendons which is small.hard lumps form in tendons and catch on sides of the small tunnel the tendon passes through. Time can rectify this.

 

[br jones]

Old age and wear and tare

 

[PSQ]

Old age and wear and tare

You've got to keep on top of issues, before they snowball and you end up looking like Albert Steptoe.

 

[steveR]

Old age and wear and tare

Tractor driving.

All that bouncing up and down while looking backwards is a recipie for problems, some jobs being worse than others as we all know.

I go an see a private osteopath when necessary....

 

[som farmer]

l spend an equal amount of time, in bed, as in an adjustable chair at night, its a bugger, shoulder freezing up, or leg, back etc, all stems from a serious back injury years ago. Shoulder has frozen up badly, 3 times, ambulance and a 'free' holiday !

got a cheap foam shaped pillow, from lildi, that helps, but exercises can help, stretches help, but if they don't.............its the chair, again.

 

[DrWazzock]

I have had neck and shoulder pain but the thing that’s helped it most is hard exercise. I’ve been digging drain junctions up with a spade and the pain has gone.
I went to GP, who prescribed physio and went to a chiro privately but they weren’t much use.
I don’t think loader / combine joystick controls or phones help with posture and mobility. You sit for hours making tiny movements and the muscles tighten, go into spasm and cramp. What they need is a real good warm up.

 

[Still Farming]

Cervical Spondylitis Dr. Told me.
Take painkillers that's it????
Friggin aches now ,from right side of head ,down neck, to shoulder.

 

[suffolksmallholder]

I have five different pillows of varying sizes plus the head ones. Each has its spot…..
I sleep about four hours out of eight.
A busy day bed time is assisted by paracetamol.
The rest of the time I listen to a story on a timer as I eventually drop off after an hour or so, wake & repeat.
Bookbeat or Audible. Your choice. IMO
SS

 

[Mur Huwcun]

Have you tried some uddermint on the shoulder?

 

[milkloss]

I have had trouble in both shoulders for a while now. It’s fcking horrible.

Have seen a very good shoulder man three times. Apparently I have encapsulation, frozen shoulder basically, and he’s prepared to operate. I asked exactly what he would do and said “get in there and see what’s going on and then cut away until your arm isn’t quite falling off”.

I scrabbled up a gate to get away from a rather nasty cow a few years back and felt something tear, he thinks my shoulder might be full of junk as well as needing the encapsulation cut.

Diabetic men are most prone to frozen shoulder…… that’s me…… but they won’t operate whilst my blood sugars are so crap, I’m getting an insulin pump next week so hopefully that will help. I rather don’t like going to bed at the minute as it hurts so much.