Best Sleeping Positions if You Have Shoulder Pain

Trying to sleep with shoulder pain sometimes seems impossible. You toss and turn but can never quite get the right position. This blog post goes over the best sleeping positions when you have shoulder pain.

Why Your Shoulder Hurts More at Night

It's painfully ironic that your shoulder feels worse when you lay down in bed. This can happen because your shoulder gets stiff. It can also seem to feel worse because you are laying there in the dark with nothing else to distract you.

Then you add sleeping position into the mix and shoulder pain can be a real pain in the neck. Think about it. If you sleep in a way that puts pressure on your shoulder for hours, it's most likely going to be sore in the morning.

Try These Sleeping Positions for Shoulder Pain

If you're having trouble sleeping with shoulder pain or a shoulder injury, you might want to try out these sleeping positions.

Best sleeping positions with shoulder pain:

• On your back. It might not feel natural, but sleeping on your back can take weight and pressure off of an injured shoulder.
• On your side. If you have a rotator cuff tear on one shoulder, sleep on the opposite side.
• On a recliner. Sleeping while slightly elevated can take pressure off a sore shoulder.

There are other things you can try as well. Use pillows or soft blankets to get into a position with less pinching or compression to your shoulder. Place ice or heat on your shoulder before you go to bed. Check with your orthopedic provider to know what might work best for you.

Changing sleeping positions can take time. It often feels uncomfortable at first but, if you stick with it, you might ease your shoulder pain at night.

Worst Sleeping Positions for Shoulder Pain

The main thing is to avoid putting any weight or pressure on your shoulder that already hurts. Avoid sleeping on your stomach or the side of your body where your shoulder hurts. Try not to sleep with your arms above your head. If you have a dislocated shoulder, that position could make your shoulder hurt worse.

Reach Out to Baptist Health

If you have questions about shoulder pain, reach out to your Baptist Health orthopedic provider. If you don't have a provider, you can find one by visiting our provider directory.