Left Side Neck Pain

In our body, the lower joints in the neck and the upper back form a supportive structure for the head to rest on, and the top three joints in the neck enable the movement of our neck and head. If this support system gets affected by any adverse condition, the muscles in these areas will tighten and cause right or left side neck pain. Sharp left side neck pain may occur due to various physical and emotional health issues which may cause such severe discomfort that a person may even have sleepless nights. Although, sharp neck pain in left side is not a life-threatening disorder, there are various causes that may contribute to pain in left side of neck.

Causes of Left Side Neck Pain

Whiplash Injury: A major cause for pain in the left side of the neck is whiplash injury. It is a cervical whiplash syndrome which may occur due a traumatic event like an accident that leads to an abrupt forward/backward movement of the cervical spine. Severe swelling, spasm, and loss of range of motion in the neck are some other symptoms of whiplash injury along with intense neck pain.

Incorrect Posture: Incorrect positioning of the neck for a long time like sitting in a chair or sleeping in a faulty posture can cause intense left-sided neck pain. These postural dysfunctions cause improper alignment of the head and shoulders and abnormal positioning of the joints that lead to severe wear and tear of the joints, muscles, and ligaments which eventually cause left side neck pain.

Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis: Another cause for left side neck pain, diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH), is a syndrome where there are abnormal calcification in the ligaments and tendons along the cervical spine, causing stiffness and hardening of the tissues. The disorder mainly affects the thoracic (middle) and lumbar (lower) spine regions that leads to swelling, loss of mobility and intense pain in the neck region.

Cervical Strain: Cervical muscle strain occurs due to an inflammation of the neck muscles which further leads to spasm of the cervical and upper back muscles. It primarily occurs due to excessive physical or psychological stress, poor sleeping habits or an injury which may cause pain, stiffness and tightness in the muscles of the neck.

Cervical Spondylosis: Cervical spondylosis is a disorder that occurs due to abrupt degenerative changes or wear and tear of the soft tissues, discs or vertebrae of the cervical spine. These changes causes gradual narrowing of the disk space which further leads to loss of normal square-shaped bone, and formation of bone spurs. These spurs exert pressure on the surrounding tissues that leads to intense pain in the neck.

Carotid Artery Inflammation: A swollen carotid artery can also be the cause behind neck pain. However, in this case, the pain is not usually restricted to the neck region. It is common for such a pain to radiate along the shoulder towards the chest. The painful sensation is especially pronounced when any kind of pressure is applied to or along the pulse (this being the carotid artery pathway).

Treatment for Left Side Neck Pain

Depending upon the cause and severity of the left side neck pain, the treatment varies. In most cases, the doctor may prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or pain relieving medications like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin and others), acetaminophen (Tylenol and others) and naproxen (Aleve), that will help decrease the symptoms of pain and inflammation in the neck muscles. But if the pain is severe, making it difficult to sleep, the doctors may also prescribe tricyclic antidepressants and muscle relaxants for neck pain relief.

Apart from all these medications, the best way to cure left side neck pain is self-care and complete rest. Applying heat pad or ice pack on the affected area, several times a day will also help in subsiding the pain. Physiotherapy may be resorted to in severe cases where the underlying causes are neuromuscular in nature. However, if these measures don't prove to helpful and in time the condition worsens, it's recommended to consult a doctor to determine the underlying cause and necessary treatment.