Neck Pain after weeks of sleeping on left side after rotator cuff surger on right

[soaring777]

I had rotator cuff surgery 11 weeks ago. Getting range of motion back slowly, but now my neck is hurting from behind my head down to my shoulder blades. What is this? I will say that I noticed I started to pull myself up from the bed with my upperbody, and sleeping primarly on my left side, since the surgery was on my right shoulder. Now my neck is hurting.

Please, please advise.

[Heidi]

Hi

Its most likely a compensation problem. Your neck muscles may have been working harder to compensate for the weaknesses in your shoulder.

Try doing some stretches for the neck muscles:

http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/stretching/allstretches.php

Some sports massage may help too.

Good luck!

[Darren_H]

Its your upper trapezius working overtime to help elevate your arm and hand. It is quite common after rotator cuff surgery. Stretching will most likely help with some of the tightness and symptoms but if you haven't fixed the movement problem it'll keep coming back. Make sure that when stretching, exercising, and doing any reaching with the right arm that your not shrugging your shoulder up. A mirror may help for giving you some cues. Hope that helps.