Shoulder Pain

Nighttime shoulder pain is a frequent issue resulting from rotator cuff tendonitis. Nighttime shoulder pain occurs fairly early on in the process. This pain also causes the patient to frequently experience disturbed sleep. For the observer, nighttime shoulder pain is interesting in that during the night the body typically restores itself and does its own healing; however, when the body is suffering from rotator cuff problems during this process, there is actually more damage being done to the superspinatus tendon.

Chronic pain is alleviated to become nighttime shoulder pain because the vertical, active, daytime body leaves its arm to act as a traction upon the shoulder that opens up space and allows blood to flow freely to the tendons. At night, the body is horizontal and so gravity is lost as a traction force, causing the pain to return.