Sleeping with shoulder pain

GeordieNana
GeordieNana Member Posts: 2
edited 8. Apr 2025, 10:36 in Living with arthritis

Hi all, I have recently been officially diagnosed with osteoarthritis in 2 places in my left shoulder (had pain for a year before that). My problem is that I sleep on my left side, have done for the past 56 years, even though I now try to sleep on my back or right side I still end up on my left. Does anyone have any helpful hints?

Comments

  • MaryL44
    MaryL44 Moderator Posts: 177

    Hello @GeordieNana  and welcome to the Community. We are a friendly and supportive group and I hope that will be your experience as well. I'm sorry to hear about your troubles getting comfortable. I have a similar problem with pain on both my left and right sides - I'm afraid I have no magic solution and have adjusted to waking up in the night to turn over!

    Our website is a mine of information so do look at it. Whilst I haven't been able to find anything specific on shoulder pain and sleeping, you might be interested in:

    https://www.versusarthritis.org/news/2022/february/top-tips-for-good-sleep/

    Also, our community members will have vast experience so keep checking back here for their responses. I have found a discussion thread related to pain keeping you awake here:

    Can you help me stay asleep😴 — Versus Arthritis

    You may find more discussions by doing your own search. Just click on the magnifying glass towards top right of screen.

    Please keep posting now you are here and let us know how you are getting on.

    Best wishes

    Mary

    Need more help - call our Helpline on 0800 5200 520 Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm

  • Trish9556
    Trish9556 Member Posts: 846

    Hi @GeordieNana

    I sympathise entirely with your plight having had a Subacromial Decompression in both shoulders at separate times. Sleep is difficult.

    I found that the best way to sleep, being a side sleeper, was to have 3 or 4 pillows and/or a triangular shaped pillow and sleep well and truly propped up. I also used a small round cylindrical pillow to rest my forearm on. Mine was a cushtie pillow but others are available. If you have any painkillers then it's best to take them about 1/2 an hour before you go to bed. If you haven't had recent xrays I would recommend getting them done with an onward referral to orthopaedics.

    Good Luck

    Trish

  • GeordieNana
    GeordieNana Member Posts: 2

    Hi @Trish9556
    the X-rays were done 4 weeks ago as I wasn’t happy with just ‘suspected arthritis’ so I know there is osteoarthritis and osteophyte formations in my glenohumeral and acromioclavicular joints. They gave me ibuprofen gel for when I can’t use my tens machine (which I really love). They don’t want to give me painkillers so I only have over the counter ones which I take before bed. I’m going to give the pillows a go and hopefully get some sleep

    Thank you

  • Trish9556
    Trish9556 Member Posts: 846
    https://community.versusarthritis.org/discussion/comment/732997#Comment_732997

    Hi @GeordieNana

    Unfortunately some doctors don't realise how bad osteoarthritis is and tell you it's wear and tear and thats there's not much they can do. You need a referral to a physo who will assess you and try different things like steroid jabs, physio therapy or maybe acupuncture before referring you to orthopaedics. I'm afraid you have to stick up for yourself these days. I love my tens machine too and used it to compliment my prescription codeine and other stuff, not to replace it. Heat and ice therapy will also work. I can't use ibroprofen pills or gels due to my asthma and tummy problems. Get yourself some help and if the GP you normally see wont help, see someone else in the surgery

    Trish xx

  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 30,322

    Hi @GeordieNana horrible isn't it? Shoulders are really tricky to sleep with. I totally get it I have been struggling for the last 12 months and a bit 😕 and my own daughter got avascular necrosis in her shoulder (cancer treatment she was 16) so I can really relate. For her we used a V pillow to trap her in place, but as sh ehad cancer she has pretty strong pain relief too. For me I wedge my good arm under the pillow with head on top and that stops me moving.

    These days Drs seem very reluctant (and I think NHS guidelines too) to prescribe stronger painkillers. You can buy ibuprofen gel in any pharmacy. Having said that I wouldn't underestimate it and paracetamol they can indeed help.

    I did go for physio and do the exercises. I try to avoid things which make the pain worse like hoovering and mopping. Also tried a steroid injection.

    Best of luck and @Trish9556 is right you have to be your own best advocate with the medical professionals.

    Toni x

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