Shoulder pain agonising at night

[Barney16]

I have had right shoulder pain for about three months and I'm really starting to wilt from the inability to get a decent night's sleep. During the day it's manageable if limiting but nighttime it's absolutely awful. I go to sleep but wake up after about two hours and I can't seem to find a comfy position. I'm reduced to sitting almost upright on the sofa balancing a hot water bottle on it and swearing. I have a GP appointment and I'm going to ask for painkillers because at night ibuprofen isn't helping but does anyone have any tips for sleeping? I'm used to side sleeping on the same side as my knackered shoulder so that's not helping but I would do literally anything to just get some uninterrupted sleep.

I used a V pillow which helped me if positioned correctly

I’ve been referred for this but via NHS. I was told that because it had been over a year of being like this, I was eligible for the procedure but I don’t know how long the wait will be to get it. The first step was an xray which ruled out arthritis. The second step was an MRI scan which I guess will confirm what’s actually going in there

Did you get help and a diagnosis @Barney16 ?

@Annialisting can i ask what surgery you had and what your diagnosis was? Ive had on going shoulder pain for 2 yrs and steroid injection has kept it manageable for 6/8 mnths but I'm im agony at night when it wears off. Have orthopaedic surgery appt end of month and hoping they will do mri as ultrasound only showing a bit of calcification/arthritis which they say shouldn't be giving such trouble. Ive had shockwave treatment on it too with no success.

It's so very depressing. Ive presented at a&e on more than one occasion, they x ray me and give me codeine/naproxen/nefopam/tramadol but with every pain killer it still wakes me and in the middle of the night i feel really quite unable to bear it 😔

Pillow propping and heat really helped me too. For persistent night pain that doesn’t improve, I’d suggest checking out Jonathan Watson MD for a full shoulder evaluation. They offer non-surgical options like injections and physio, plus surgery if needed, all with a clear rehab plan that fits your daily life.

Depending on your other symptoms either Rotator Cuff (been there) or Frozen Shoulder.

How old are you? Are you on HRT? Do you keep fit, exercise, have good mobility / flexibility?

You need a recommended physio to work out what exactly is going on in there and a plan. Painkillers are just a sticking plaster. I wouldn't touch a steroid injection.

Personally if your physio agrees appropriate I found the exercises and their advice / support invaluable plus deep tissue (and self) massage and dry needling to be really effective.

I had this. Frozen shoulder. I had steroid injections and hydrodilatation and now awaiting surgery. Naproxen helps a little bit