/assets/images/provider/photos/2767986.jpeg)
Does your neck pain occur more on the right side or the left? You might wonder why you have neck pain all on one side. Learn why you might experience pain on only one side of your neck.
Neck pain is one of the most common complaints affecting adults in the United States. You're not alone if you suffer from neck pain. However, not everyone experiences neck pain in the same way. Do you notice that your symptoms occur only on one side of your neck, either the left or the right? What does it mean when you have pain in your neck's right or left side, and how should you treat it?
Board-certified neurosurgeon Dr. Beejal Y. Amin provides diagnosis and symptom-relief treatment for new and existing patients with neck pain. Dr. Amin helps you understand the cause of your single-side neck pain from his offices in Hinsdale and Woodridge, Illinois, and recommends an effective treatment plan to improve your condition. With the correct treatment, your neck pain could disappear.
Learning more about your single-side neck pain
Dr. Amin starts your treatment for neck pain with a detailed diagnostic process to learn more about underlying causes. He examines your physical condition and reviews your symptoms, medical history, and family history. Dr. Amin may also ask about sleep habits, typical physical activities, and stress levels.
Most commonly, pain concentrated on the right side of your neck, or pain only felt on the left side, occurs due to simple causes that are easy to treat. However, this type of pain can sometimes be a symptom of something more serious. That’s why it’s critical to get an accurate diagnosis of the cause of your single-sided neck pain.
Common causes of left-side or right-side neck pain
Some factors and conditions account for most right or left-side neck pain cases. The most common causes include:
- Muscle strain or tension
- Sleeping with your neck in an awkward position
- Hunching or leaning posture
- Bending your neck for long periods to support a phone
- Stress from heavy lifting
- Grinding your teeth
- Whiplash from a fall or accident
In addition to pain focused on one side of your neck, you may also notice symptoms like stiffness, loss of range of motion, muscle spasms in the related shoulder, or numbness or tingling in the related arm. Headaches often co-occur with neck pain on either side.
Other causes of left-side or right-side neck pain
Some other medical conditions may cause lopsided neck pain symptoms. With the correct diagnosis, treating an underlying problem becomes possible.
The medical condition known as wryneck or torticollis may be causing your symptoms. If you develop torticollis, your head twists or bends to one side due to a neurological condition, congenital issue, injury, infection, stress, or cold exposure. Torticollis also occurs with headaches, loss of balance, vision issues, and nausea and vomiting. The condition may improve, and heat therapy and targeted stretches often help.
You might be suffering from the effects of a pinched nerve in your neck or cervical radiculopathy. If so, your pain symptoms may radiate into the related hand and arm. You may need spinal treatment to release compression around an entrapped nerve.
More rarely, a spinal tumor, an infection, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, or fibromyalgia could be causing your pain. If your symptoms don’t improve with rest and over-the-counter pain medications, or if you also experience symptoms such as vomiting, fever, or loss of physical control, reach out to Dr. Amin for diagnosis and prompt treatment.
Schedule your consultation by calling Beejal Y Amin, MD, or requesting an appointment online.