What’s Causing Right-Sided Neck Pain


 

Neck pain can occur on either side of the neck and is generally minor. It can be caused by issues with the neck's muscles, nerves, joints, bones, or disks. Problems with posture, stress on the neck, injury, and (less commonly) certain medical diseases are all major reasons for pain on the right side of the neck.

Let's go over the different types and causes of right-sided neck pain.

Types of Pain That Can Occur on the Right Side of the Neck

There are several kinds of neck pain:

  • Muscle pain: Overexertion, tension, or muscle spasms in the neck or shoulder can result in tender, firm knots (trigger points) and pain.

  • Joint pain: Sharp, deep, or unbearable pain in the facet joints (part of the bones in the neck) is usually worse when you lean toward the affected side and may spread to the upper back or shoulder.

  • Nerve pain: Irritation or pinching of the spinal nerve roots can induce sharp, transient, or severe pain. It may be accompanied by a pins-and-needles sensation or pain that travels through the arm into the hand.

  • Referred pain: A dysfunction in one part of the body might cause pain in another.

  • Bone pain: Neck vertebrae (spine bones) can cause soreness or pain. It is less prevalent than soft tissue discomfort and may suggest a more serious health problem.

Possible Causes of Neck Pain on the Right Side

Pain on either side of the neck is typically caused by soft tissue issues, such as muscles.

Neck pain can be caused by many kinds of things, including:

  • Injury

  • Medical conditions

  • Posture and sleep position

  • Physical and psychological stress

Posture and Sleep Position

If you position your body wrongly while sitting, standing, or lying down, it can create neck pain, especially if an incorrect posture persists or is repeated.

Examine the way you stand or sit at work and other activities that can cause neck strain, such as:

  • Watching TV

  • Sitting/hunching at a desk

  • Computer use

  • Reading

  • Sleeping

  • Exercising

  • Any activity that tends to keep your neck in the same position for an extended time

Physical and Psychological Stress

Extra tension on the neck muscles from physical activity or psychological stress can result in pain and/or stiffness.

Neck strain can be caused by:

  • Sudden strain (such as catching a jumping child)

  • Tightening of muscles in response to psychological stress

  • Compensatory strain (such as carrying a bag on one shoulder)

  • Prolonged physical activities that use the neck muscles, particularly ones where your head is leaned backward or you are working overhead

Injury

Neck discomfort can be caused by an injury to any area of the neck, although common neck injuries involve muscles and ligaments.

Common causes of neck injury include:

  • Falls

  • Motor vehicle accidents

  • Contact sports

  • Diving accidents

A common neck injury is whiplash. It occurs as a result of a traumatic event (such as a car accident or sports injury) that causes an abrupt movement of the neck beyond normal limits, either forward (hyperflexion) or backward (hyperextension).

Whiplash can injure several structures in the neck, resulting in discomfort (in the neck, ear, and/or jaw), headaches, spasms, and loss of neck range of motion.

Medical Conditions

Medical disorders can cause neck pain less frequently. These could include:

  • Acute torticollis: Rapid onset of severe neck twisting and rotating to one side

  • Cervical disk degeneration (spondylosis): Degeneration of the spine's jelly-like disks, causing the space between the vertebrae to decrease and putting stress on the spine's joints.

  • Cervical facet osteoarthritis: Arthritis in the joints on the sides of the vertebrae, causing pain in the middle or side of the neck, as well as in the shoulders, base of the head, ear, jaw, or arm.

  • Herniated/ruptured disk: A herniated, slipped out of place (herniated/slipped) or ruptured disk.

  • Cervical radiculopathy (pinched nerve): A nerve that is squeezed or inflamed in the neck, where it branches away from the spinal cord.

  • Osteoporosis: A disorder in which bone is broken down faster than it is rebuilt, resulting in tiny spine fractures.

  • Infection in the neck: Infections of the bone (osteomyelitis), disk (diskitis), or other locations, such as a spinal cord abscess, can occur.

  • Fibromyalgia: A chronic disease that generates symptoms such as physical pain and weariness.

  • Meningitis: Inflammation of the brain and spinal cord membranes, which is usually caused by a bacterial or viral infection.

  • Swollen lymph node: It has the potential to irritate and trigger spasms in the neck muscle it is in contact with.

Conclusion

If you are looking for neck pain relief, you may google “neck pain treatment near me”, but be sure to check at least a few doctors on the list for recommendations and qualifications.

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