Pain at night affecting sleep?

[jurke]

This is more of a general question.

I’ve read and watched most of the BBM content on pain management so I am familiar with your overall approach and feelings on things like load management, exercise modification to a pain free range of motion, and an overall narrative that pain does not equal injury. I’ve found this advice very beneficial particularly as it relates to general training and warmup practices.

My question is.... how would you explain pain that is noticeably worse (or maybe even ONLY present) at night during sleep?

Given that during sleep you are not actively thinking things like “rolling over to this side is going to hurt so don’t do if” as you are not awake, how would you explain something like waking up in the middle of the night with nonspecific shoulder pain for example. What could cause something like this?

[Michael Ray]

This is more of a general question.

I’ve read and watched most of the BBM content on pain management so I am familiar with your overall approach and feelings on things like load management, exercise modification to a pain free range of motion, and an overall narrative that pain does not equal injury. I’ve found this advice very beneficial particularly as it relates to general training and warmup practices.

My question is.... how would you explain pain that is noticeably worse (or maybe even ONLY present) at night during sleep?

Given that during sleep you are not actively thinking things like “rolling over to this side is going to hurt so don’t do if” as you are not awake, how would you explain something like waking up in the middle of the night with nonspecific shoulder pain for example. What could cause something like this?

Hey jurke - thanks for the questions. As unsatisfying as this answer will likely be, we can't hypothesize what's ongoing in this context without speaking with the individual directly and garnering more information. Sleep disturbances happen for various reasons and often once someone is awake they then reflect on their experience in which they describe as painful.

[jurke]

Thanks for the reply Michael.

I’m finding that adopting your general strategies around pain management (modifying load, rom, etc) are indeed helping inside the gym, but pain at night/during sleep continues to be an issue.

[Michael Ray]

Thanks for the reply Michael.

I’m finding that adopting your general strategies around pain management (modifying load, rom, etc) are indeed helping inside the gym, but pain at night/during sleep continues to be an issue.

I understand. Generally speaking in these scenarios my advice is find a comfortable/tolerable sleeping position, albeit fully realizing you don't have much control once asleep and you may awake noticing a painful experience. Ideally once that happens then as best as you can reset and go back to sleep. Hopefully as time goes on and activity dosage is regulated, this experience improves. We'd be able to give more insightful advice with a consultation diving deeper into your experience and how you've been responding.