Why does my shoulder ache at night after rotator cuff repair?

[Sofia35]

I’m about six months out from a rotator cuff repair and while my strength is coming back, I still have this deep, persistent ache in the joint at night that keeps me up. My surgeon says the repair looks solid on imaging, so I’m wondering if this is just part of the long haul of healing the soft tissues.

[ThomasT]

Im six months out and the night ache is still there. Strength came back but some nights the joint just grinds and keeps me awake. I started keeping a little log to notice patterns, and it didn’t really resolve on its own.

[Aubrey.M]

A friend who went through the same process said imaging looked fine but the pain lingered. It felt like a long remodeling job inside the shoulder, not a quick fix. It came and went with how I moved that day and how I slept.

[Jacob7]

I tried a tiny routine: slow stretches in the afternoon, a light walk after dinner, and a pillow under the arm at night. It helped some nights, but not consistently, and I’m not sure I’m chasing the right thing.

[Emma_G]

Could the real issue be something else, like nerve sensitivity or the bed and pillow, not the shoulder itself? I keep wondering if I’m missing a piece of the puzzle.