We’ve focused on back pain from sleeping on the wrong mattress several times before. That being said, a sore back is far from the only malady that can come from either sleeping incorrectly or sleeping on a poor-quality mattress. For some, especially those who are side sleepers, the pain they feel is actually in their shoulder and not the back.
Why do I get shoulder pain from sleeping?
Sleeping on your side means laying on your hips and shoulders all night long. Considering that the average adult spends anywhere from six to hopefully eight hours a night sleeping in pretty much the same position, that’s quite a lot of pressure over time. Your shoulder ends up bearing a lot of the weight of your torso. This can even have long-term lasting effects on your joint if you don’t remedy the situation. The constant pressure that you put on your shoulder joint can cause it to become inflamed and lead to structural damage.
How to get rid of shoulder pain from sleeping
Clearly, this isn’t something to let go. Switching positions while you sleep can start to alleviate shoulder pain from sleeping on the side. For most people this is easier said than done, though. You’ve slept this way for years! Even if you do manage to force yourself to fall asleep in a different position, chances are good that you’ll roll back over once you’re fully asleep. This is why we recommend you get the sleep products you need in order to sleep deeply and wake up pain free.
Did you know that they make side sleeper pillows especially for people like you? It is true! We have several that we recommend to side sleepers, including the Malouf L Shape Gel Dough Pillow. This is perfect for side sleepers, as it has an ergonomic design that cradles your head while supporting your neck and back. This side pillow is not just shaped well; the material inside is worth talking about too. Dough® memory foam infused with gel beads creates a cooler, softer memory foam.
You’ll also want to look into your mattress itself. It is quite possibly either causing the shoulder pain or at the very least, not helping it. You want to make sure you’re supported all night long. If you’re sleeping on a mattress that is old, cheap, or not supportive enough, the shoulder you are laying on can press too hard into the mattress, creating misalignment and pain the next morning. A firm mattress can help alleviate this risk.
For example, we encourage you to look into our own City Mattress Saguaro Firm Mattress. This mattress, part of our own Parks Collection, features individually wrapped innersprings, tempered coils that are tri-zoned, and a heavier gauge coil inside the center third of the mattress. In order to deliver the relief you need from shoulder pain from sleeping, the coils are also “nested” which lends more surface steel for resilience. We have other fantastic options from PranaSleep, Tempur-Pedic, Sealy Posturepedic, and more.
Sleeping on your side can place additional pressure on your shoulder, causing irritation or pain. Sleeping on a shoulder that’s already sore, night after night, is sure to make the pain worse. Make today the day you put a stop to it! We have over two dozen store locations, so you are sure to find a City Mattress near you where you can lay down on a great mattress, speak to an expert, and find the perfect mattress for you. We even offer free, next-day delivery. You won’t believe how quickly your new mattress arrives and you say goodbye to shoulder pain from sleeping on your side!