Why Does My Shoulder Feel Sore At Night?

If your shoulder starts aching when you lie down at night, makes it uncomfortable to settle into bed, or wakes you when you turn onto that side, pressure on the shoulder or an irritated tendon may be making the soreness more noticeable.

If your shoulder has been bothering you during the day, the soreness may become harder to ignore once you get into bed. The rotator cuff tendons help you lift and rotate your arm, and repeated reaching, lifting, or overhead activity can leave them irritated enough that lying on the shoulder becomes uncomfortable.

When a tendon or the surrounding bursa becomes irritated, pressure from your body weight or certain arm positions can aggravate the area. Instead of finding a comfortable position and falling asleep, you may keep shifting your arm or rolling onto your back to reduce the ache.

Lying On Your Shoulder Puts Pressure On Sore Tendons

Direct pressure on an irritated rotator cuff can make the shoulder more painful when you settle into bed.

When you sleep on your side, your weight presses the shoulder against the mattress, which can aggravate an already sore tendon or bursa. If reaching overhead or lifting your arm has also been uncomfortable, that combination may point to a shoulder problem that is being aggravated by both movement and pressure while lying down.

The Shoulder Gets More Uncomfortable As You Change Positions

Repeatedly turning or moving your arm during the night can aggravate a shoulder that is already sore.

Rolling onto the affected side, reaching across your body, or placing your arm above your head can change the position of the shoulder and increase pressure on sensitive areas. If you keep waking up and adjusting your position, the repeated pressure may make it difficult to find a comfortable way to sleep.

Why Your Shoulder Soreness Keeps Interrupting 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, it helps blood deliver vital oxygen and nutrients throughout the area to promote healing.

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 to the touch after a recent injury or flare-up, Ice Substitute Poultice is also used to reduce swelling and inflammation while restoring normal circulation so you can quickly regain range of motion. Traditional ice is often used to help reduce swelling, but Ice Substitute Poultice provides an ice alternative that helps reduce swelling and inflammation while also dispersing accumulated blood and fluids so circulation can move more freely through the area and promote faster recovery.

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 is also used to significantly 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 helps relieve soreness and stiffness.

Frequently Asked Questions

You may also find these commonly asked questions helpful.

Why does my shoulder feel sore at night?

Your shoulder may ache at night because lying down puts pressure on an irritated rotator cuff tendon or bursa. Certain sleeping positions can make existing shoulder problems more noticeable.

Why does my shoulder hurt more when I lie on it?

Lying on the affected side presses your body weight against the shoulder, which can aggravate sore tendons or the surrounding bursa.

Can a rotator cuff problem cause shoulder pain at night?

Yes. An irritated or injured rotator cuff can cause pain when you lie on that shoulder, move your arm, or try to find a comfortable sleeping position.

How should I sleep if my shoulder is sore at night?

Try avoiding direct pressure on the sore shoulder and support your arm with a pillow. Choose a position that does not increase the pain.

When should I get shoulder pain at night checked?

Seek medical advice if the pain is persistent, worsening, or repeatedly disrupting sleep. Get prompt care for severe pain after an injury, sudden weakness, or inability to move your arm; chest pain or difficulty breathing requires emergency care.

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.