How Do I Stop My Shoulder Hurting While I Sleep?

If you've ever struggled with shoulder pain at night, you know how frustrating it can be to find a comfortable sleeping position. Whether you sleep on your side or back, the pain can keep you tossing and turning, leading to poor rest and discomfort in the morning. Stiffness upon waking, soreness with movement—especially reaching overhead—and even a loss of strength in the affected arm are all common complaints. This deep discomfort within the shoulder joint is often associated with bursitis, a condition that Myotherapists can treat using non-invasive techniques.

What is Bursitis?
Shoulder bursitis occurs when the bursa, a small, fluid-filled sac that cushions the joints, becomes inflamed. The bursa in the shoulder helps reduce friction between muscles, tendons, and bones during movement. However, when this sac becomes irritated due to overuse, injury, or repetitive strain, it can lead to painful inflammation. The result? Aching, soreness, and stiffness, especially when trying to sleep on the affected shoulder.

Bursitis can be caused by various factors, including spending too long in certain postures or positions, repetitive motions (like throwing or lifting), or even direct injury. It may also develop gradually due to general wear and tear. People with bursitis often experience pain when raising their arm above shoulder height, which can make simple tasks like dressing or reaching difficult. Sleeping becomes a challenge as pressure on the inflamed bursa often exacerbates the pain, making it hard to find a position that offers relief.

How Can Myotherapy Help Shoulder Bursitis?
While many people turn to their GP for a diagnosis and are often recommended cortisone injections, Myotherapy offers a more conservative and holistic approach to shoulder bursitis treatment. Myotherapists are skilled in assessing musculoskeletal pain and injuries, and they use a range of non-invasive techniques that can help manage bursitis without the need for injections or surgery.

Hands-On Techniques: Myotherapy treatments often include a combination of:

• Massage therapy to release tight muscles and reduce pressure on the shoulder joint.
• Myofascial release, which targets the connective tissue (fascia) to reduce pain and improve mobility.
• Cupping to increase blood flow and promote healing in the affected area.
• Dry needling, which involves inserting fine needles into trigger points to relieve muscle tension.
• Taping to provide support and stability to the shoulder while it heals.

These hands-on techniques work to reduce inflammation and pain, improve range of motion, and enhance blood flow to the affected area. As a result, patients often find relief from their symptoms, including the ability to sleep more comfortably.

Exercise Prescription: Alongside manual therapies, Myotherapists will often prescribe exercises specific to your type of pain. These exercises are designed to strengthen the muscles around the shoulder joint, reduce strain on the bursa, and prevent further aggravation. Strengthening and mobility exercises help restore function while also preventing recurrence of the injury.

Consistency is Key: One of the most important aspects of treating shoulder bursitis is maintaining consistency with treatment and prescribed exercises. Unlike a cortisone injection, which may provide temporary relief, Myotherapy addresses the underlying issues contributing to the bursitis. By attending regular sessions and keeping up with your exercises, you can significantly improve your chances of recovery without needing to rely on steroids or surgery.

The Importance of a Diagnosis
While Myotherapists can treat shoulder pain effectively, it’s important to have an accurate diagnosis to ensure you're addressing the right issue. A definite diagnosis of shoulder bursitis usually requires an ultrasound. If you're experiencing shoulder pain, your GP may refer you for imaging to confirm bursitis and rule out other conditions like tendon tears or arthritis. Once diagnosed, GPs often recommend cortisone injections as a first-line treatment to reduce inflammation.

However, many patients prefer to explore conservative care options before jumping straight into steroid injections, and that’s where Myotherapy comes in. Myotherapists can work alongside your GP to develop a treatment plan focused on relieving pain, restoring mobility, and preventing further injury—all without invasive interventions.

Finding Relief While You Sleep
Shoulder bursitis can make sleeping a painful ordeal. Here are some tips to help you find relief and sleep more comfortably:

• Avoid sleeping on the affected shoulder: Sleeping on your sore shoulder puts pressure on the bursa, increasing inflammation and pain. Try sleeping on your back or your opposite side, using pillows for support.
• Use a supportive pillow: A well-placed pillow under your arm or shoulder can help maintain a neutral position and reduce strain.
• Anti Inflammatory creams: Applying an anti inflammatory cream to your shoulder before bed can help reduce inflammation and numb the pain, making it easier to settle down for sleep. Make sure to check with your pharmacist whether these readily available over the counter creams like Voltaren or Nurofen are safe and suitable for you, and always follow the instructions on the label or directed by the pharmacist.

If you’re struggling with shoulder pain at night, it may be worth considering Myotherapy as a treatment option. With hands-on techniques like massage, myofascial release, cupping, and dry needling, combined with exercise prescription, Myotherapists offer a non-invasive, conservative approach to managing shoulder bursitis. Consistency in treatment and exercise can lead to long-term pain relief, restoring your shoulder's function without the need for injections or surgery. If you suspect shoulder bursitis, an ultrasound from your GP can confirm the diagnosis, but Myotherapy provides a gentle and effective alternative to more invasive treatments.

Our therapists help people every week with bursitis. Book online to start the process of treating your shoulder pain.