Left Side Neck Pain
left side neck pain when breathing in
Neck pain on the left side can originate from a variety of sources. Comparing your symptoms can help you find the source of your pain so you can determine the very best method making this pain stop.
Most people feel a pain in their neck at some point or another, and there can be many causes that result in this discomfort. Your neck is comprised of seven smaller sized vertebrae that range from the base of the skull to the upper torso that are created to offer assistance for your neck and offer a variety of motion for your head. This versatility is practical, however can also leave you susceptible to injury. If the left side of the neck is impacted by an unfavorable condition these muscles will tighten up which can lead to pain. What are the reasons for left side neck pain, how can you treat the causative conditions?
Causes and Treatments of Left Side Neck Pain
1. Muscle Tension and Posture
Some conditions can cause short-term pain that can affect the left side of the neck.
| Condition | Condition Description | Treatment Options |
|---|---|---|
| Muscle Tension | Overusing your neck, oversleeping an incorrect position or muscle strain can trigger the neck to end up being numb, stiff or cause pain. | Sleeping on a firm bed mattress, giving up a pillow, taking muscle relaxants or pain reliever, enhancing your sitting posture, decreasing stress and having a restorative massage can assist to reduce this discomfort. |
| Poor Posture | Sitting with your neck spine bent can trigger damage to your core support group which can lead to pain. | Making a point of holding the head in positioning with the body can take pressure off your left side to relieve pain. |
2. Neck Injuries
Injuries that strain the neck such as overuse, accidents or an abrupt motion can trigger the neck to end up being stiff and sore. This pain might rotate and spread out down to the shoulders or the other side of the neck.
| Condition | Condition Description | Treatment Options |
|---|---|---|
| Whiplash Injury | Quick acceleration and deceleration of the body such as what you would experience during an automobile mishap can harm the spine. This can cause the left side of the neck to end up being stiff in addition to arm and shoulder pain, headache, tiredness, back pain, dizziness and disturbed sleep. | The type of treatment you need will vary based on the nature of the injury. In extreme cases it might be required to wear a cervical collar to avoid further injury, though the immobilization that is inescapable in this case can enhance stiffness in the neck. |
| Burners and Stingers Injury | Sports injuries from an effect on the left side can case the nerve roots in this area to become compressed. This can cause a stinging, burning or pinching sensation on the neck which can last for hours or days. | This condition is normally short-lived, but if tingling or weak point persists or begins to influence the arm and shoulder you will need to debilitate the area. |
| Pinched Nerve | A pinched nerve due to bone stimulates, spinal stenosis or a herniated disc can cause pain to radiate down the neck and into the left shoulder and arm in addition to weakness or pins and needles in this area. | Anti-inflammatory medications can lower swelling that might be impacting these nerves. Assistance braces or physical therapy might also be required. If the damage is severe surgery may be needed to return experience to this area. |
| Cervical Herniated Disc | If the cushioning in between the spinal column ended up being harmed from injury or lifting heavy weight these fibers can bulge out, triggering tingling, pain or numbness on the left side of the neck. | A combination of rest, exercise and pain medications or corticosteroids can be used to handle pain from a herniated disc. If the disc is pressing on the nerves it may need surgery to remedy. |
3. Degenerative Disorders
As the body ages, the wear and tear on the neck can cause damage which can lead to degenerative conditions.
| Condition | Condition Description | Treatment Options |
|---|---|---|
| Cervical Osteoarthritis | This condition causes progressive degeneration of the cartilage, bones and joints in the neck due to natural wear and tear. As this takes place the body will produce bone spurs in the neck that can limit the variety of movement and trigger an unique grinding sound. | Anti-inflammatory medications, chiropractic manipulation, cervical collars, exercise, cold and hot treatment are helpful in managing pain. |
| Spinal Stenosis | As the neural passages on the left side of the neck ended up being compressed it can cause feeling numb in the neck that can spread out down the arm. Trauma, aging, hereditary factors and arthritis can add to this condition. | Massages, ice bags, physical therapy and heat treatment can supply relief. If the pain is severe a lumbar decompressive laminectomy may be necessary. |
4. Medical Conditions
Some conditions that influence the body as a whole might have an impact on the neck as well.
| Condition | Condition Description | Treatment Options |
|---|---|---|
| Fibromyalgia | This condition causes the tissue, tendons, muscles and joints to become tender, which can cause back or neck pain on the left side. Injury or a disturbance in your sleep can trigger these symptoms. | Light massage, pain medication, muscle relaxants or antidepressants can be prescribed. Oftentimes rest helps and physical therapy will be needed to reduce long term symptoms. |
| Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis | This syndrome causes an abnormal calcification in the tendons and ligaments along the spine. This will cause solidifying and stiffness of the neighboring tissues that can limit your neck’s mobility and cause swelling and pain. | Pain management with pain medications or injections can help to manage symptoms. Exercises can be utilized to help keep mobility of the neck also. |
| Other Medical Conditions | Head and neck cancer, a spine growth, carotdynia, heart attack, meningitis, infections in the epiglottis and swelling in the lymph nodes can trigger pain on the left side of the neck. | |
Neck pain caused by muscle stress or strain typically disappears by itself within a couple of days and needs only conservative treatment at the most. Neck pain that continues longer than several weeks normally will still respond to work out, stretching, physical therapy, massage and careful waiting, but steroid injections or even surgery are periodically indicated.
To help ease discomfort, attempt these self-care ideas:
- Ice or heat. Use an ice bag or bag of frozen peas to your neck for 15 minutes 3 or more times a day. Taking a hot shower or bath can assist unwind strained muscles.
- Stretching. Stretch your neck muscles by turning your neck gently from side to side and up and down.
- Massage. Rubbing the sore locations in your neck can assist ease muscle spasms.
- Excellent posture. Practice good posture, specifically if you sit at a computer throughout the day. Keep your back supported, and make sure that your computer system monitor is at eye level.
Call your doctor if you have neck pain that:
- Worsens in spite of self-care
- Persists after numerous weeks of self-care
- Radiates down your arms or legs
- Is gone along with by headache, numbness or tingling
- Seek emergency situation medical care
Call 911 or your local emergency situation number or have somebody drive you to the emergency clinic if you have severe neck pain that’s connected with:
- Terrible injury. Examples include car collisions, diving mishaps or falls.
- Muscle weakness. Weak point in an arm or leg or problem walking might signify a more severe problem.
- High fever. If you have severe neck pain with a high fever, you may have meningitis, an infection of the membrane covering your spinal cord and brain.
Last modified: August 16, 2016