Pain when sleeping on the shoulder
Pain when sleeping on the shoulder
Pain when sleeping on the shoulder can be very troubling. In severe cases, the person may not be able to get much sleep at all throughout the night.
Many common shoulder conditions may cause pain when sleeping. These include: Impingement, Rotator Cuff tear, Frozen Shoulder, amongst others.
Stiffness first, or Pain first?
Whether stiffness sets in first or pain sets in first, may give some clues about the underlying condition.
Cases where stiffness starts setting in, then followed by pain soon after, are commonly frozen shoulder cases. It can become very painful in frozen shoulder, such that the person may not be able to sleep.
Where pain starts first, then followed by stiffness, the causes are more variable. These may include impingement, rotator cuff tear, calcific tendinitis, amongst others.
Frozen shoulder, or not?
Frozen shoulder refers to an inflammatory condition where the tissues around the shoulder get inflamed and tight, causing marked stiffness. Without treatment, a case of pure frozen shoulder may take 1 to 2 years to recover.
However, many cases of pain and stiffness may not be just pure frozen shoulder. In many cases, the underlying condition was something else, eg impingement or rotator cuff tear, which developed the complication of stiffness when left untreated.
It is important to differentiate such cases as they likely will not recover by themselves.
A physical examination by a Shoulder specialist is an important part of the diagnosis to differentiate between the causes. Xrays and MRI are also commonly ordered to evaluate the internal condition. Only after an accurate diagnosis has been made, can appropriate treatment be started.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find quick answers to common queries, designed to help you navigate
your orthopaedic care journey with ease.
You can come see us without having to obtain any referral letters first.
The exception is if you are using a corporate insurance plan, as some corporate insurers require you to see a family doctor on your panel first, and ask for a referral letter to us.
Yes, but it can take one to three years without treatment. Early intervention shortens recovery and reduces the severity of your symptoms. Some patients are left with residual stiffness even after the condition resolves.
Starting frozen shoulder treatment early gives you the best chance of a faster recovery. For most patients, a corticosteroid injection combined with physiotherapy offers the most effective improvement. In more advanced cases, hydrodilatation or arthroscopic release may be more appropriate.
Yes, physiotherapy is one of the main pillars of frozen shoulder treatment. A structured programme of manual therapy and stretching can meaningfully improve range of motion, particularly in the frozen and thawing stages. How consistently you do your home exercises plays a significant role in how quickly you recover.
If your shoulder has been stiff or painful for more than two to three weeks without improvement, get it assessed. Night pain, difficulty reaching behind your back, or restricted overhead movement all warrant specialist review. People with diabetes or thyroid conditions should seek assessment promptly.
Yes. A corticosteroid injection reduces inflammation and pain, making physiotherapy more effective. Hydrodilatation is another option for patients who have not responded to standard injections alone.
Frozen shoulder surgery is considered when pain persists for several months and conservative treatments have not produced adequate improvement. Arthroscopic capsular release is a keyhole procedure that removes the thickened tissue restricting your shoulder. Most patients experience meaningful improvement in pain and mobility in the weeks that follow.
Recurrence in the same shoulder is uncommon. However, some patients develop it in the other shoulder at some point. The second episode does not always follow the same severity or timeline as the first.
Centurion Orthopaedic Centre
38 Irrawaddy Road
Mt Elizabeth Novena Hospital Specialist Centre #07-40
Singapore 329563