My Shoulder Feels Sore Every Morning: What Could It Be?

Shoulder pain is a common problem for both women and men; nearly 70% of people experience sore shoulders at some point. One probable reason is that the shoulder joint is complex and used in many activities, meaning there are numerous ways to injure your shoulder.

Josue Maysonet, DC, and the team at Kerinver Chiropractic offer real solutions for morning shoulder pain, strengthening the shoulder joint, relieving painful inflammation, and restoring normal shoulder movement and better quality sleep. In this post, Dr. Maysonet and his team explain some common causes of morning shoulder discomfort.

Shoulder anatomy in a nutshell

The shoulder is a ball-and-socket that forms where your upper arm bone (humerus) meets with your shoulder blade (scapula) and your collarbone (clavicle). A series of interconnected ligaments, tendons, and muscles support the shoulder, hold it in place, and support its wide range of movement.

Any of these components can become injured or strained through impact injuries like falls or repetitive injuries and strain from throwing or lifting. Like any joint, the shoulder joint can  develop arthritis over time, leading to persistent pain and decreased range of motion.

Shoulder pain can cause multiple issues during your waking hours, and it can cause pain and discomfort during the night and in the morning, too. Unfortunately, morning shoulder pain is often an extension of nighttime discomfort that could interfere with sleep and make healing more difficult.

Why morning shoulder pain happens

When it comes to morning shoulder pain, there are many possible culprits. Figuring out what’s causing your pain is the first step toward finding a solution.

Sleeping position

Sometimes, all it takes is a change in the way you sleep to help relieve morning shoulder pain. While you sleep, you’re pretty much immobile, and lack of movement can lead to aches and pains in your shoulders and other joints.

One of the best ways to relieve this shoulder pain is to provide adequate support for your neck and both arms. If you’re a side sleeper (most of us are), use one set of pillows to take pressure off the shoulder you sleep on and another set to keep your “upper” arm from falling forward.

If you’re a back sleeper, focus on supporting your neck, upper shoulders, and lower back. Avoid sleeping on your belly, which causes your neck to stay turned at an extreme angle.

Arthritis

Arthritis causes pain and inflammation inside the joint. If you have arthritis, physical therapy helps relieve joint inflammation that can leave you with morning pain. Over-the-counter medicines that reduce pain and inflammation can help, too.

Frozen shoulder

Also known as adhesive capsulitis, frozen shoulder causes a lot of stiffness and pain in your shoulder joint. While the cause of a frozen shoulder isn’t completely understood, it can feel worse after sleeping. Try gentle stretching before sleep, use pillows to support your shoulders, and look into physical therapy to restore normal shoulder function.

Rotator cuff injuries

Rotator cuff injuries are common, involving strain to the muscles and tendons that support shoulder movement. Physical therapy and chiropractic treatment are ideal for treating these injuries, especially combined with gentle stretching and heat therapy.

Neck or back problems

Sometimes, morning shoulder pain is related to other medical problems. Muscle strain, arthritis, or other issues affecting your neck or upper back can cause shoulder pain, too. A pain evaluation is the best way to learn what’s behind your pain so your treatment can be most effective.

Preventing morning shoulder pain

Shoulder pain is never normal, so it’s always a good idea to check it out, especially if it’s severe, worsening, recurrent, or persistent. The good news is that chiropractic care is especially effective at relieving shoulder pain and restoring joint function and stability.

To learn what we can do to relieve your morning shoulder pain, request an appointment online or over the phone with the team at Kerinver Chiropractic in Kissimmee and Lake Nona, Orlando, Florida, today.