Causes of Shoulder Pain After Sleeping

Stay Young Bureau Jun 16, 2023

Sleeping Position

Sleeping in a wrong position can strain the muscles and tendons around your shoulder joint, leading to pain and discomfort. Using an unsuitable mattress can also cause or aggravate shoulder pain. Credit: Stay Young Bureau

Frozen Shoulder

This condition causes stiffness and pain in the shoulder joint, often worsening after periods of inactivity, such as sleeping. Symptoms include neck pain, pain in one shoulder, and difficulty moving and rotating the shoulder. Credit: Stay Young Bureau

Rotator Cuff Injury

Overuse or repetitive motions can result in inflammation or tears in the rotator cuff tendons, causing pain during sleep. The pain may start mildly but can gradually increase, making it difficult to move the affected arm. Credit: Stay Young Bureau

Tendonitis

Inflammation of the tendons in the shoulder, such as biceps tendonitis or supraspinatus tendonitis, can cause pain that worsens after resting. It can cause stiffness and joint pain and affect tendon movements. Credit: Stay Young Bureau

Shoulder Impingement

This occurs when the tendons or bursa in your shoulder become compressed or irritated, causing pain that may be worse upon waking up. Symptoms include persistent pain, difficulty raising the arm over your head, and pain when sleeping on the affected side. Credit: Stay Young Bureau

Bursitis

Inflammation of the bursa, the small fluid-filled sacs that cushion your shoulder joint, can cause shoulder pain, joint pain, difficulty moving the arms, and tenderness after sleeping. Credit: Stay Young Bureau

Arthritis

Conditions like osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis can cause joint inflammation and morning stiffness, leading to shoulder pain upon waking up. Symptoms include pain, stiffness, and difficulty moving the affected arm. Credit: Stay Young Bureau

Pinched Nerve

Compression of a nerve in the neck or shoulder region, such as from a herniated disc or nerve impingement, can cause radiating shoulder pain after sleeping. Credit: Stay Young Bureau

Torn Labrum

A tear in the cartilage rim surrounding the shoulder socket can lead to shoulder pain, especially when sleeping on the affected side. Labral tears occur due to an injury or overuse of your shoulder. Credit: Stay Young Bureau

Referred Pain

Conditions such as gallbladder disease or heart problems can sometimes cause referred pain in your shoulder, which may be felt more prominently in the morning. Credit: Stay Young Bureau