Shoulder pain that wakes you up at night can become a deep ache or sharp pain when you lie down, especially when an irritated shoulder is compressed or kept in one position for too long.
Shoulder pain that wakes you up at night can feel like a deep ache, throbbing pain, or sharp pain that becomes noticeable after you have been lying still for a while. An irritated rotator cuff, tendon, muscle, or other shoulder tissue can become more painful when the shoulder stays in one position or is pressed against the bed.
You may fall asleep without much trouble and then wake up when your shoulder starts aching, throbbing, or feeling unusually tight. Turning onto the painful side can make it worse, but you may also notice pain when you lie on your back or the opposite side and your shoulder stays in one position for a long time.
The pain can be especially frustrating because your shoulder may not hurt much while you are moving around during the day. Once you stop moving and remain in bed, however, stiffness and pressure around an already irritated shoulder can make the discomfort much more noticeable and repeatedly disturb your sleep.
The Pain Builds After You Have Been Lying Still
Your shoulder may feel fine when you first lie down, then start aching after you have stayed in one position.
As the night goes on, you may become aware of a deep ache or tight feeling that makes you shift positions to get comfortable. Keeping the shoulder still for hours can make it feel stiff, while an irritated tendon or rotator cuff may become more sensitive when the area is not moving normally.
Turning Over Can Suddenly Wake Your Shoulder Up
You may wake up when you roll over and your painful shoulder moves or gets pressed into the mattress.
A position that seemed comfortable can suddenly cause a sharp pull, pinch, or aching sensation when you turn. You may then have trouble finding another position because even small changes in how your arm rests can make the shoulder feel painful or restricted.
Why Your Shoulder Pain Keeps Disrupting Sleep
Your shoulder can take longer to recover when blood flow and circulation are reduced.
Muscles, tendons, ligaments, and other soft tissues can become irritated or strained through repeated movement, overuse, awkward movements, prolonged positions, or everyday activities. Some of these tissues, particularly tendons and ligaments, naturally receive less blood supply than many other parts of the body and may take longer to recover after irritation or injury. Recovery can take even longer when the same movements or activities continue to place stress on them.
Reduced circulation through the area can make it harder for the tissues to receive the oxygen and nutrients they need to heal properly. This can leave your shoulder feeling sore, tight, weak, stiff, or painful during everyday activities.
How To Help Your Shoulder Feel Better
Improving blood flow and circulation can help your shoulder feel better.
For centuries, Chinese herbs have been used to support healthy blood flow and circulation. Their medicinal properties help disperse stagnant blood and excess fluids that can collect around irritated or injured tissues and restrict normal circulation. As circulation begins moving more freely, fresh blood can better deliver oxygen and nutrients throughout the area to help it recover properly.
Topical remedies containing these Chinese herbs can help relieve pain and other symptoms while supporting healthy blood flow and circulation around the shoulder. The right product depends on your symptoms and whether the problem is recent or has been ongoing for some time.
If you have pain, swelling, inflammation, or bruising, Bruise Relief Liniment helps relieve these symptoms by increasing circulation and dispersing stagnant blood and fluids around the irritated tissues. As circulation improves, fresh blood, oxygen, and nutrients can more easily reach the tissues that need them for healing.
If the area is especially swollen, red, or warm after a recent injury or flare-up, Ice Substitute Poultice can also be used to reduce swelling and inflammation while dispersing accumulated blood and fluids. As swelling and trapped fluids are reduced, circulation can move more freely through the area.
If you no longer have swelling or inflammation, but still have pain, stiffness, weakness, or sensitivity in cold weather, Pain Relief Liniment helps relieve these symptoms by strongly stimulating circulation and increasing blood flow to irritated tendons and ligaments. This is especially important because tendons and ligaments naturally receive less blood supply and can take longer to recover.
If you continue to have pain or stiffness around an injured tendon or ligament, or the area feels more painful in cold weather, Tendon and Ligament Poultice can also be used to further stimulate circulation to the area. By increasing circulation, it helps offset the reduced blood flow caused by cold weather, which can aggravate chronic tendon and ligament injuries.
If your muscles feel sore or tight, or if you are preparing for exercise or strenuous activity, Muscle Therapy Massage Oil warms and stimulates the muscles, increases circulation, relieves tightness, and improves flexibility. Using it before activity helps warm up the muscles, while applying it afterward can help relieve soreness and stiffness.
Frequently Asked Questions
You may also find these commonly asked questions helpful.
Why does my shoulder pain wake me up at night?
Your shoulder may become more painful while you lie still because an irritated tendon, rotator cuff, or muscle can become stiff and sensitive in one position for an extended time.
Why does my shoulder hurt more when I lie on it?
Lying directly on a painful shoulder can put pressure on already irritated tissues and make aching or sharp pain more noticeable.
Why does my shoulder hurt when I turn over in bed?
Turning over can suddenly move or compress the shoulder, causing a sharp pull or ache when the area is already irritated or stiff.
Why does my shoulder feel stiff during the night?
Keeping your shoulder in one position for several hours can make an irritated area feel tighter and more restricted until you begin moving again.
What should I do if shoulder pain keeps waking me up?
Reducing activities that aggravate the shoulder and supporting normal recovery can help, but persistent, severe, or worsening nighttime pain should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare professional.
Recommended Products
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• Bruise Relief Liniment — For recent injuries with pain, bruising, swelling, or inflammation to relieve pain, reduce swelling, increase circulation, and support faster recovery.
• Ice Substitute Poultice — For swollen, inflamed areas to reduce swelling, restore normal range of motion, and support the healing process.
• Pain Relief Liniment — For lingering pain, stiffness, tightness, or weakness after the swelling and inflammation is gone to strongly stimulate circulation and relieve pain.
• Tendon and Ligament Poultice — For ongoing tendon and ligament injuries when stiffness, tightness, or lingering pain remains, helping significantly stimulate circulation and support deeper tissue repair.
• Muscle Therapy Massage Oil — For sore or tight muscles before or after activity to help warm muscles, improve circulation, relieve tightness, and support flexibility.
Related Articles
You may also find these related articles helpful.
• I Have Shoulder Pain and I Can’t Raise My Arm Without Pain
• I Have Shoulder Pain and My Arm Feels Weak When I Lift It
• I Have Shoulder Pain and My Shoulder Is Getting Stiffer
• I Have Shoulder Pain and I’m Losing Movement in My Arm
Safety Notes
This article provides general educational information about the topic described above.
Persistent, severe, or worsening symptoms should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare professional.
