Sleep Induced Injuries
admin | February 15, 2007I managed to dislocate my shoulder in my sleep last night. I’ve recently taken to sleeping on my side with my arm under my pillow and my head on top of my pillow and I’ve discovered that that’s not as sensible as it sounds. You see my joints are rather flexible and its not unusual for me to hear a crunching sound and then sink into the bed a little when I lie on my side but with my arm above my head the additional pressure caused my shoulder joint to hyperflex and sort of pop out during the night.
I woke up with a throbbing shoulder and unable to move my arm in the slightest. I actually had to scoop it up with my remaining good arm and sort of shove it back where it was supposed to be and hold it in front of me where it didn’t hurt as much.
This now officially takes over the dislocating shoulder whilst trying on a top in a store changeroom incident as the most stupid way I’ve injured myself.
Miriam, that’s how i’ve been sleeping for as long as i can remember. Iv’e woken up many times with a dead arm and haven’t been able to move it for a while but i’ve never dislocated my shoulder. I can see how it could happen though. The secret is to get a really thin pillow.
yeah i sleep like that as well and while I’ve never dislocated my shoulder, it usually feels like shit in the morning so I’ve been trying to unlearn the habit.
It seems like this happens to everyone who sleeps in that position.
Whats the best sleep position? Sleeping on your back? I’ve been reading articles where they mention that sleeping on your side is also a good position. What dazzles me is that it just doesn’t make sense as to how you can sleep on your side without getting a dead shoulder the next morning.
What is everyones thoughts?
I have always slept on my side, and both of my shoulders dislocate just about every night. No pain though. They just pop out all of the time. I had a sports massage therapist tell me I have a loose physiology. Apparently a lot of my joints pop in and out and I didn’t even know it. I’m guessing it is genetic, because both of my kids dislocated their elbows quite a bit when they were younger.