Sleep and body aches are bound tightly together. Correct sleeping behavior can alleviate pain, while bad habits can cause it. That’s especially true for sleeping positions. An incorrect sleeping position will quickly lead to back and shoulder pain.
Just as sleeping can cause pain, it can also worsen pre-existing pain. As a result, shoulder pain is one of the most common sleep-induced aches. The shoulder is a complex joint, and some movements will easily aggravate it. To help you with this problem, we listed the 5 crucial things you need to know for reducing shoulder pain while sleeping. These facts will make your shoulder pain more manageable and help you get a good night’s rest.
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Choose the Correct Mattress or Topper
Unsurprisingly, your mattress has an enormous effect on your sleep quality. That, of course, relates to shoulder pain as well. An essential quality a mattress needs to provide is pressure relief in critical areas to reduce shoulder pain. Therefore, the shoulder area of your bed must prevent your shoulders from experiencing harmful pressure while you sleep. A mattress that is too firm or too soft will only worsen shoulder issues. It would be best to aim for the perfect middle ground with a gentle mattress with ample support.
As beneficial as it can be, replacing your mattress is costly. However, there is a way around this: mattress toppers. Using a topper, you can get most, if not all, of the benefits of a new mattress. They come in all shapes and sizes and use the latest technologies such as latex, memory foam, and more. To help manage shoulder pain, choose one of these perfect mattress toppers. They will offer the benefits of a new mattress at a fraction of the cost.
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Consider Your Sleeping Position
Sleeping posture can affect your health to a large degree. Moreover, each of the most common sleeping positions affects your body differently. When dealing with shoulder pain, choosing a sleeping posture that won’t put your shoulders in unnatural positions is essential.
Sleeping on your stomach is probably the worst choice for sleepers suffering from shoulder pain. Many people tend to place their arms under their pillow when lying down on their stomachs, forcing their shoulders to stretch. For some, this extra strain results in pain.
Side sleeping is a better choice, but it requires that you choose your mattress carefully. Since you’re putting all of your weight on one side, your mattress or topper needs to offer just the proper support in the shoulder area. Of course, you should never lie down on an aching shoulder, so switch sides if you need to.
Sleeping on your back is the best option for dealing with shoulder pain. Combined with a good mattress, it will put your shoulders into a natural and relaxed position. As a result, your body will be able to recover from any existing pain and prevent new pain.
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Take Pain Medication Before Bed
If your shoulder pain is severe, you should try to get a pain medication prescription. Taking pain medication will help relieve severe pain, allowing you to sleep better. Shoulder pain will ruin your sleeping pattern, negatively affecting your health. On the other hand, good sleep will go a long way in helping the body recover. If you’re not a fan of pharmaceutical drugs, try a natural alternative such as CBD oil. CBD oil will help dull any pain you’re experiencing and allow you to relax long enough to fall asleep.
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Avoid Painful Movements
As with any injury, the first step to getting better is to avoid the activities that caused it. For sports-related aches, that means taking a little break from training until you start feeling better. Work-related injuries are similar in that regard.
Chronic shoulder pain such as arthritis can be tricky but manageable. Combining prescription medication and healthy sleeping habits will alleviate your pain significantly.
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Stretch and Exercise
After your shoulder pain disappears, try to make exercise a more significant part of your routine. Strengthening your shoulders will make them more resistant to future injuries and less sensitive to pain. Consider something like weight lifting or yoga. The former will strengthen your shoulders, while the latter will give them more flexibility and mobility. Both will result in healthier shoulders and joints.
Conclusion
A poor-quality mattress and bad sleeping habits will quickly lead to body aches such as shoulder pain. However, by following our tips, you can ensure that shoulder pain never happens to you. To prevent shoulder pain, ensure you have a suitable mattress or mattress topper, change your sleeping position, and exercise your shoulders regularly. If you’re already experiencing shoulder pain, don’t worry, it’s reversible. Avoid worsening the injury and take pain medication to manage discomfort while healing. By doing all of the above, you’ll be able to continue getting a full night’s rest in no time.