Typically, shoulder pain that gets worse at night may be caused by bursitis, tendinopathy or an injury to the rotator cuff. How-to relieve shoulder pain at night. Bursitis is an inflammation of the bursa, which is a fluid-filled pad that provides a cushion to the bones of the joint. Shoulder pain can be treated—sometimes fairly easily Fortunately, the answer to preventing tendinitis from side-sleeping is easy: You have to switch up your sleep position. Dr. Gobezie is one of the top ranked shoulder surgeons in the US. Ah, the joys of a good night’s sleep. For those suffering from shoulder pain or rotator cuff injuries, it can seem nearly impossible to get comfortable at night and find a sleeping position that isn’t painful. The Cleveland Shoulder Institute - World Class Shoulder Care. Find a better sleeping position The first course of action to relieve shoulder pain at night is to find a good sleeping position for you. When you keep pressure off your shoulder, you promote healing and reduce your risk of further damage. Rotator Cuff Tear While seated, have your partner raise the painful arm/shoulder to the side and parallel to the floor. If you sleep on your side, keep switching up which side you sleep on. You go to bed fully intending to get a solid 7 hours and wake up refreshed, but instead, you wake up with random shoulder pain … Starting your day with severe shoulder pain after waking up isn’t the best way, right? Best Sleeping Positions for Shoulder Impingement. Learn more about Shoulder Pain from Sleeping on Your Side . You have a simple solution for shoulder pain that comes from an improper sleeping position. And unlike other injuries, those having to do with this part of the body can take ages to heal. In addition, pain while raising the arm upward and while sleeping are also indications of an AC joint separation. If your shoulder pain is worse at night, there are ways to ease your pain. We agree. 1.