Occasionally an individual may experience neck pain as a result of physical exertion or sleeping in an uncomfortable position. However, if your pain persists, you may be suffering from something more serious. If you are experiencing pain in the left side of your neck on a regular basis, there can be a number of causes — some more common than others.
A few examples we’ll explore more in-depth in this article are whiplash, muscle strain, pinched nerves, acute torticollis, degenerative disc disease, cervical fracture, herniated discs, spinal stenosis, and osteoarthritis.There are several causes of left side of neck pain, from whiplash to muscle strain to pinched nerves and less familiar conditions like acute torticollis. Needless to say, it’s important to educate yourself when it comes to dealing with pain in the left side of your neck in an appropriate manner.
Whiplash
Whiplash occurs when your head is aggressively forced forward and backwards. This traumatic motion can occur as a result of slamming the brakes in your car, getting in a car accident from the rear, being tackled, riding a roller coaster, or even falling. Another term to describe whiplash is ‘acceleration-deceleration syndrome. Whiplash occurs in the upper portion of the spine where your neck is located, also known as the cervical spine.
Muscle Strain
If the pain in the left side of your neck is caused by muscle strain, it may subside after resting for a few days. If you are experiencing pain for a week or more or it is accompanied by other symptoms, you may be facing a more serious issue. It’s possible that a muscle strain can take longer than a week to fully recover; however, if the pain persists, a medical evaluation is highly advised to prevent further injury. A few common causes of muscle strain are long phone calls with your neck propped up on your shoulder, or working at a computer where you need to lean in or look down for extended periods of time.
Pinched Nerve
A slightly more severe cause of left side neck pain, or cervical radiculopathy, may be caused by pinched nerve. Pinching a nerve in the left side of the neck can also cause numbness and pain in the left shoulder. As your nerves branch out from your spine they can become compressed by a disc, bone, or muscle. If you have pinched a nerve, you may experience a burning sensation, numbness, or tingling in the arms, legs, or neck. If you are concerned that you may have pinched a nerve in your neck, consult an orthopedic surgeon to obtain an accurate diagnosis of your particular condition.
Acute Torticollis
Acute Torticollis often occurs when you wake up with a twisted neck and can cause you to have pain in the left side of your neck. Pain associated with torticollis can sometimes spread to the middle of your neck, shoulder, or even the back of your head with the affected side being more tender. If the range of motion in your neck is limited and applying pressure on certain areas of the left side of your neck causes a spasm, you may have acute torticollis. If your torticollis is acute it can go away without treatment; however, if symptoms persist and you are experiencing debilitating pain there are exercises, medicine, and even minimally invasive surgery to help correct the issue.
Degenerative Disc Disease
Degenerative disc disease is another potential source of neck pain. There are discs in our spines that act as cushions between our spinal vertebrae. Degeneration of these discs can cause pain in the side of your neck and can occur naturally over time or due to an injury. If you have pain in the left side of your neck that gets worse when sitting, twisting, or bending and extends through to your arms, you may be suffering from degenerative disc disease.
Cervical Fracture
A cervical fracture is another way of saying ‘broken neck’ although it can be drastic and result in paralysis or death, more often than not it is like breaking any other bone in your body. A cervical fracture can also negatively impact the nerves in your spinal cord, causing tingling in the hands and feet. If you think you may have broken your neck, it is very important to seek out expeditious professional attention. This is a very painful condition that can make even the slightest turn of the head an excruciatingly painful exercise. Depending on the severity of the broken neck, a patient may need a simple neck brace or surgery to set the bones back in the right position.
Herniated Disc
A herniated disc, also known as a ‘slipped’ or ‘prolapsed’ disc can occur when a disc in your spinal vertebrae is damaged, resulting in the interior gelatinous portion protruding through the tough, outer portion of the disc. If you are having pain on the left side of your neck and also either numbness or pain alongside your nerves, depending on how severe the protrusion is, you may need surgery to either fix or remove the herniated disc. Some other signs that you may have a herniated disc are pain that worsens at night, after sitting, walking or standing or pain, weakness tingling, aching, or burning in the affected area as well as your extremities. Many patients find that surgical intervention is necessary to achieve long-term relief for their symptoms. Consult an orthopedic surgeon to discuss your ideal treatment options.
Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis is a less common cause of pain in your neck in which the spinal column can tighten and even compress the spinal cord, causing nerve damage. This process is usually a slow one, but it’s still a cause for concern as it can happen all along the spine including the cervical region. Spinal stenosis can not only cause pain, but it can start giving you issues with your equilibrium and can make you feel weak in your arms and legs, too. Many factors can contribute to spinal stenosis, including aging, changing tissue consistency, bone growth, scoliosis, bone tumors, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis, among others.
You will need a medical exam to accurately determine your diagnosis. At minimum, this will consist of a physical exam but may, at your doctor’s discretion, include an X-ray, CT scan, or MRI to further inspect the extent of your condition. If you’re having pain in the left side of the neck and spinal stenosis is determined to be the cause, physical therapy and pharmaceutical treatment are options to stretch and strengthen your body as well as reduce inflammation, pain, and swelling. If you are experiencing intense pain or neurological damage your most effective treatment option will likely involve surgery, such as a laminectomy.
Osteoarthritis
Pain in the left side of your neck may also be related to a joint condition known as osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is a condition in which the cartilage in between the joint of two bones erodes, allowing the bones to rub together. If you have osteoarthritis, you are likely to experience stiffness and pain. This condition can be experienced in adults of any age but is generally the result of aging and wear and tear wear and tear.If you have suffered from dislocated joints, torn cartilage, or ligament injuries in the past, they can contribute to the development of osteoarthritis.