Is shoulder aching and sore at night a sign of shoulder periarthritis?
Disease description:
I can't sleep at night anymore—the shoulder pain is unbearable, to the point where I can't function without painkillers. Is the aching from my shoulder, especially at night, caused by frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis)?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Lin Yunfei
It is possible. At night or after exposure to cold, local blood circulation may become impaired, leading to the release of pain-inducing substances and consequently worsening pain, which tends to persist—these are symptoms associated with the aforementioned conditions. It could also be caused by a malignant tumor in the shoulder, especially osteosarcoma or giant cell tumor of bone in the proximal humerus. A hallmark of malignancy is pain at night, and imaging tests such as X-rays are necessary for evaluation.
