How to Sleep with a Frozen Shoulder

Mar 22, 2022

Man,Suffer,From,Stiff,Shoulder,,Muscle,Inflammation
The shoulder is the most flexible joint in the human body, and as such, it is significantly more vulnerable to injury. And there are a lot of different kinds of injuries! Shoulder pain could come from a dislocation, separation, fracture, rotator cuff tears, and many others.

One of the most frustrating shoulder conditions to experience is called frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis. This condition develops when the connective tissues encasing your shoulder become inflamed. The inflammation makes these tissues thicker and stiffer, thus “freezing” your shoulder into place so that you can’t move it.

Frozen Shoulder Symptoms & Causes

A frozen shoulder is most likely to occur after sustaining an injury that requires you to immobilize your shoulder for an extended period of time, such as wearing a sling after a shoulder dislocation. It is also much more common in people with diabetes. Women aged forty or older are more likely to get it than men or people who are younger, and it’s also more likely to develop in people with certain diseases, like hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, cardiovascular disease, tuberculosis, and Parkinson’s disease.

When you develop a frozen shoulder, it usually occurs in stages. The first stage is the freezing stage, during which your shoulder’s range of motion becomes more limited, and movement in the shoulder becomes increasingly painful. Next comes the frozen stage, where pain begins to diminish, but the use of the shoulder is much more difficult. Finally, there is the thawing stage. Your range of motion will begin to improve, and you should have little to no pain.

Tips for Sleeping with a Frozen Shoulder

A problem many dealing with a frozen shoulder face is that of insomnia, which is a disorder where you may have trouble falling or staying asleep. Insomnia causes sleep deprivation, which can cause issues with focus, attention, learning, and decision-making. Sleep deficiency also affects mood and, on the dangerous side, makes you more likely to fall asleep at the wheel and get into a serious car accident. There are, however, some changes you can make to your regular sleep routine that will help you in sleeping with a frozen shoulder.

Avoid Sleeping on Your Stomach

Sleeping on your stomach is one of the worst positions you can sleep in when dealing with a frozen shoulder. The reason for this is that the position pushes back on your shoulders in a way that can cause further damage to the inflamed tissue causing the frozen shoulder. Instead, most doctors agree that you should try to sleep on your back instead.

This position works best if you can keep your arms extended down by your sides. Positioning your arms this way will help relieve stress on your joints and will keep your spine in an ideal alignment. However, keeping your arms by your sides may be uncomfortable. If so, there is also the option of keeping your arms under your head or stretched over your head. This, too, will help relieve unnecessary pressure on your joints, muscles, and tendons and allow you to get some sleep while managing this uncomfortable condition.

Use a Support Pillow

Keeping your arms stabilized so that the muscles and tendons in your shoulder can relax is the main goal for managing sleep with a frozen shoulder. Many people use extra pillows to tuck under their arms and keep them at the same level as their torsos. This will help relieve pressure and provide some relief to any pain or stiffness you may feel while laying on your back.

The most important pillow to use is the one that will support your head. You should be using a pillow that supports your neck and keeps your head aligned with your spine. This will help relieve tension and pressure not only in the affected shoulder but also in the neck, which may be carrying extra tension to compensate for the pain or stiffness you may be feeling in your shoulders.

Use a Body Pillow

If you are one of the 60% of adults who sleep every night on your side, trying to sleep on your back will cause as many problems as the frozen shoulder itself. If you need to sleep on your side to get a good night’s sleep, you can use a body pillow to help stabilize your back and shoulders. You can also tuck a body pillow between your knees to help relieve any extra pressure and ensure more relaxation throughout the whole body.

Avoid the Affected Shoulder

It seems obvious, but it really is important! Whether you choose to sleep on your back or on your side, keeping weight off the affected shoulder is important. This can be hard to adapt to at first if you are used to sleeping on a particular side, and that side is the one with the frozen shoulder. Many people who have habituated to a specific position will find that they have moved in their sleep and tried to lay on their affected shoulder, only to be woken by a shock of pain. It’s hard to avoid, but it is a good goal to have.

Frozen Shoulder Pain Relief

Depending on which stage you are in with your frozen shoulder, you may be experiencing a lot of pain or just a little. Either way, it will have an impact on your daily life, and that can be frustrating. There are some steps you can take at home to help provide pain relief for your frozen shoulder.

  • Over-the-counter pain relief medications, like ibuprofen and aspirin, can help take the edge off any pain. If you do use these medications, be aware of the risk of ulcers and other side effects from long-term usage.
  • Be sure to regularly practice any exercises or stretches your physical therapist assigns. These exercises will help you gain back your flexibility and range of motion more quickly.
  • Ice your shoulder with an ice pack for up to twenty minutes a few times a day. Doing so could help decrease the inflammation causing the problem.

If you’re looking for a local professional who can help you with your frozen shoulder pain relief, contact Lithia Springs Chiropractors today!

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