Neck Pain Left Side
Chronic neck pain is a common phenomenon. Youngsters and old adults can suffer from neck pain due to different underlying causes. Discomfort and pain on the left side of the neck are usually the outcomes of injury, but there can be other causes too. Patients can experience different intensities of pain on the left side. Some experience minor neck pain, while others are incapacitated by severe neck pain.
Neck pain depends on various underlying issues. To clarify the cause, we discuss the major contributors to considerable pain on the left and how to diagnose and treat them.
Potential Causes Of Left Neck Pain
Poor Posture
The most common cause of neck pain is poor posture. The advent of smartphones has made us prisoners of our phones. A lack of knowledge about the proper biomechanics can end up in increased muscle tension and amped-up pressure on the neck muscles.
Text Neck Syndrome
Abrupt use of neck muscles can lead to a disorder called text neck syndrome. The syndrome is characterized by neck pain due to the overuse of smartphones (for texting). You can suffer unilateral neck pain (left-side neck pain) due to improper postures. According to studies, this musculoskeletal pain is highly prevalent in adolescents and young adults.
You might also get a sore neck by sleeping in an awkward position. Such pain isn’t persistent neck pain and develops overnight. You sleep all well but wake up holding the left side. A sore neck is caused by twisting of the neck muscles during sleep, thanks to an abrupt neck pillow. The good thing is that it goes away on its own.
Temporary Neck Pain (Spasm Of Neck Muscles)
Muscle spasms and muscle strain of the neck can push you into temporary neck pain. In most cases, tension neck pain is a temporary neck pain that goes away with rest and medications.
Sore Neck
Muscle strain tension develops in the neck when you abnormally load the neck muscles. According to most patients, neck muscle strain occurs on the left side of the neck after lifting weights or heavy objects. A sore neck is an example of muscle strain or tension of the neck muscles and tendons. Youngsters frequently develop a muscle spasms after hectic activity.
Neck muscle strain is a common type of musculoskeletal neck pain in children and adolescents. Temporary pain in the left neck goes away with rest and sleep modifications.
Nerve Pain: Spinal Cord Abnormalities
Cervical Radiculopathy
You may encounter left neck pain due to cervical spine issues. The neck region of the spinal cord plays an important role in providing stability to the head. Therefore, it is prone to pathologies. A common cause of neck pain is cervical radiculopathy which is characterized by the impingement of spinal nerve roots in the cervical spinal cord.
A pinched nerve root manifests different symptoms of compression. Most patients complain of radiating pain on the left, accompanied by numbness, burning, and tingling. The condition has a prevalence of about 1.3%. Radiculopathy patients can experience neck pain accompanied by numbness, burning, and tingling.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis
Stenosis is the process of narrowing the spinal canal carrying spinal nerves. Cervical spinal stenosis refers to a decrease in spinal space within the neck region. If present on the left side, this spinal canal narrowing can lead to compression of the nerves. A pinched nerve due to stenosis has the same symptoms as cervical radiculopathy. In most cases, it results from chronic inflammation due to osteoarthritis.
Abnormally shaped cervical vertebrae (malformed vertebrae) can also contribute to cervical spinal cord anomalies such as stenosis.
Spinal Tumors
A pinched nerve can also be associated with an abnormal mass or growth in the spinal cord. Spinal tumors are rare but can lead to nerve symptoms similar to cervical radiculopathy. A spinal tumor can lead to neurogenic pain on the left side, along with headaches.
Most neck pain disorders of the spine arise due to impingement of the nerve roots. Even a single nerve root involvement can give rise to symptoms. Some patients also complain of arm pain along with neck pain due to radiculopathy.
Arthritis
Chronic degenerative diseases can also contribute to neck pain on one side. The most common chronic pains include osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Cervical osteoarthritis is characterized by degeneration of the bones and cartilage, leading to osteophytes (bone spurs). These bone spurs can potentially impinge on the neighboring nervous structures causing severe pain and discomfort. When the left side of the neck is affected, the patient experience left-sided neck pain.
On the other hand, rheumatoid arthritis causes inflammation of the joints. This inflammation itself causes neck pain. There are no bone spurs found in rheumatoid arthritis patients. A faulty immune system attacks its own joint and bones, leading to localized inflammation.
Inflammation and pain are common to both types of arthritis. The conditions cause persistent pain that can be managed by lifestyle modification.
Injury Or Trauma
Trauma is considered to be the most evident of all common chronic pains causes of neck pain. Traumatic injuries (such as those sustained in an accident) contribute greatly to neck pain on the left side.
Injury or trauma can excessively stretch the soft tissues (ligaments, tendons, etc.). Ligament and tendon tears can induce moderate neck pain, which requires rest and medication.
Severe injuries and blows can hurt the integrity of the bone leading to fractures. Even minor fractures (cervical fracture) can cause significant pain and need medical intervention.
A blow to the spinal cord can result in a cervical fracture. Cervical vertebral fractures are difficult to treat due to the delicate balance of the spinal column. A left-sided broken neck can lead to severe pain and severe inflammation.
Whiplash Injury
The sudden and forceful back-and-forth movement of the neck can lead to a unique type of injury called the whiplash injury. It is a common type of sports injury. You can also get it in an accident or a fall.
Research shows that whiplash injury patients suffer from persistent pain. Another study found that vehicle collisions can cause whiplash causing different symptoms. Patients suffer from neck stiffness, pain and headaches, and paraesthesia. Untreated neck pain can lead to permanent disability.
A 2020 meta-analysis concluded that neck pain and headache are the most common presentations of whiplash injuries.
Disc Herniation
Cervical vertebrae are specialized structures designed by mother nature to withstand pressure and jerks. Special structures called intervertebral discs provide a cushioning effect on the spine.
A vertebral disc consists of a tough (fibrous) exterior part called the annulus fibrosus and an inner soft jelly structure, i.e., the nucleus pulposus. Trauma to the spine can lead to disc slipping, causing a herniation. Even a minor injury or direct trauma to the spine can result in herniation.
A left-sided herniated cervical disc causes neck pain on the left side. In most cases, the cervical disc tears release the soft part (nucleus), adding pressure on the spinal nerves. Young patients suffering from lordosis have higher chances of disc herniation and consequent neck pain.
Disc herniation presents as pain on the left side of the neck, which is accompanied by muscle weakness and other symptoms of nerve compression, including numbness, burning, and tingling.
Torticollis
The condition of having a twisted or bent neck is called torticollis. A lot of patients develop torticollis on the left side of the neck. Also known as a wry neck, torticollis is among the most common causes of neck pain. It can be congenital or acquired.
In this disease, the neck muscles contract. And the head is turned/rotated on one side. Muscle stiffness, pain, and muscle spasm are common presentations of the disorder. The condition is known to affect newborn babies. You can find acute torticollis in newborns. According to studies, this stiff neck condition presents as unilateral neck swelling and pain.
Meningitis
Meningitis is a serious condition that can lead to pain on the left side of the neck. Meningitis refers to inflammation of the brain layers. It can be caused by a bacterial, viral, or even fungal infection. The initial presentation of meningitis is neck stiffness. Brain swelling and neurological symptoms are also seen in patients as the disease progresses. Sometimes, calcific tendinitis mimics meningitis, making diagnosis difficult.
Heart Attack
The most serious causes of neck pain include meningitis and myocardial infarction (heart attack). Pain on the left side of the neck and chest can indicate an underlying medical emergency, i.e., a heart attack.
You should get yourself checked immediately if neck pain is accompanied by other symptoms such as chest congestion, cold sweats, and shortness of breath. Symptoms of severe medical conditions should not be ignored and should be checked timely.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is difficult because several medical conditions contribute to pain on the left side. The following strategies are effective in reaching an accurate diagnosis.
Medical History
The most important aspect in diagnosing the cause of pain on the left side is the medical history. History of trauma and injury points towards muscle strain, muscle tension, and traumatic injuries (tendon tears, vertebral fractures, etc.).Chronic pains in the neck and other regions of the body are mostly present in arthritis cases.
Physical Examination
Physical examination is also important. It involves examining and palpating the left side for swelling, redness, and soreness.
Your healthcare provider will ask you to perform certain neck movements to check radiculopathy. The impact of torticollis is also checked on a physical exam.
Radiographic Imaging
X-ray, MRI, and CT scans are advised to visualize hard and soft tissue breaches. X-rays are good at showing bone and joint issues like osteophytes and fractures.
MRI scans and CT scans are used to check soft tissue deformities and swelling (edema).
How To Manage Left Side Neck Pain?
Prolotherapy
In recent years, Prolotherapy has built its reputation within the medical community for its clinically proven ability to treat neck pain.
Published research has proven its pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory and regenerative benefits.
Prolotherapy involves injecting a natural regenerative solution with small needles. This has been shown to reduce swelling, which helps reduce neck pain.
As prolotherapy is helping to treat the root cause of neck pain, it is deemed to be a permanent fix, preventing the symptoms from returning.
Most cases of pain on the left neck are due to muscle strain and spasms. These issues do not require any detailed medical attention and can easily resolve with simple home therapies.
Home Therapies
Rest
You should take proper rest to allow healing. Taking off from work can be a positive step towards healing. You should avoid lifting weights until the symptoms subside.
Ice
Ice application is an effective way of reducing inflammation and pain. You can apply a cold bag of peas or ice on the neck’s left side.
Immobilization
Immobilizing the neck keeps it safe from further injury. It also allows to remove pressure from the neck muscles. A neck collar is advised to disc slip, ligament tear, and cervical fracture patients.
Neck Massage
Massaging the neck can be beneficial for your muscles. It helps release tension in the taut neck muscles and alleviates pain from muscle strain. It also improves blood flow to the neck structures.
Posture Correction
A good posture can help relieve pain from abnormal postures. You should strengthen the neck by practicing good posture. The right working posture helps keep muscle strains and spasms at bay.
Medications And Steroid Injections
Painkiller medicines such as ibuprofen and naproxen effectively lower pain and inflammation. You can try over-the-counter analgesics for your neck pain. For instant relief from severe pain, your doctor might suggest steroid injections. Corticosteroid injections are quick to reduce localized inflammation and are usually given to chronic pain patients.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is the best non-pharmacological intervention to manage left-side neck muscle. A physiotherapist relieves the muscle strain or tension in your neck. Manual therapy aids in repositioning the herniated disc and thus lowers pain. It also improves blood flow and improves neck posture.
Surgery
Surgical intervention is only indicated when pain persists, even after conservative management. Different surgical options are selected based on the underlying condition.
Surgical decompression is the surgery of choice in case of nerve impingement. This is opted in cases of cervical spinal stenosis and osteoarthritis (osteophytes). Surgical resection or complete removal of the spinal tumors can also be done if needed.
FAQs
- What does left-sided neck pain mean?In most cases, left-side neck pain is temporary, caused by muscle strain and spasms. Muscle spasm caused by torticollis is present in children and youngsters. Spinal cord abnormalities like radiculopathy and cervical stenosis can also cause neck pain. Spinal tumors rarely cause cervical pain. Serious conditions like meningitis and heart attack can also cause it.
- Should I be concerned about left neck pain? Is neck pain serious?Yes, if neck pain is associated with or accompanied by symptoms of serious conditions. If neck pain is accompanied by neck stiffness, brain swelling, and reduced responsiveness, you should get checked for meningitis. Similarly, neck pain with cold sweats, shortness of breath, and chest congestion can indicate an ongoing heart attack.
- What are the red flags for neck pain?Red flags for neck pain include:Brain swellingFever
Cold sweats
Chest congestion
Shortness of breath
- How do you know if neck pain is a stroke?Unusual and persistent neck pain can be the outcome of a stroke. You can identify a stroke by knowing the symptoms of a stroke. The common stroke symptoms include dizziness, diplopia, speech slurring, and unsteady gait.
- Can left side neck pain be heart-related?Yes, heart pain is almost always felt on the left side of the body. Some people report pain on the back of the left chest, which may also be felt in the neck region. Thus, if left-sided neck pain is felt with breathing difficulties, it is possible that you are suffering from a heart attack.