Neck Pain on the Left Side: Causes and When to Seek Treatment

Few things are worse than waking up feeling like your neck is restricted from turning. Maybe you notice dull achiness all day when sitting at your desk. Or maybe every time you look over your shoulder while driving, you feel a sharp pull in your neck. Whatever the symptom, pain in the left side of the neck can really ruin your day.

You know that your neck is stronger than you think. It’s built to take a beating with its crazy network of muscles, nerves, bones, etc. But we also know how easy it is to let modern-day habits get the best of our bodies. The good news is that isolated neck pain is rarely serious and can be treated. The first step is understanding why you started feeling discomfort in the first place.

Common Causes of Neck Pain on the Left Side

You may be wondering why your neck hurts more on one side than the other. Odds are, your body is extremely imbalanced when it comes to movement and resting positions. Typically, the pain you are feeling on the left side of your neck is your body’s way of telling you that you have pushed one bad habit too far.

Sleeping Position

Ever wake up feeling MORE tired than when you went to bed? The position you lie in for 7–8 hours has a huge impact on your spine. If you elevate your neck too high or turn too far to the left when you sleep, you are causing those muscles to stay active all night.

The levator scapulae muscle and the trap muscle take the biggest hit when you sleep on your stomach with your head turned to the left.

Research has shown that stomach sleepers are FAR more likely to develop serious neck pain because they must turn their head to one side just to breathe!

Make sure you are sleeping on a pillow that allows your neck to maintain its natural curvature. Self-care starts with a good pillow.

Learn More: Neck pain from sleeping wrong

“The Text Neck”

How many hours per day do you spend leaning over, looking down at your smartphone or iPad? Over time, that constant forward head posture creates excessive stress through the muscles on the back side of your neck. If you find yourself constantly tilting your head to the left as you scroll or resting your left ear against your smartphone in your left hand, you have created an imbalance.

The head itself weighs about 10–12 lbs. However, when you hold your head forward with a 60-degree angle, that effective weight triples to about 60 lbs. Your posterior neck muscles are forced to work overtime, keeping your head stable, which eventually leads to microscopic tearing of the muscle fibres. Over time, this unchecked damage leads to inflammation.

Heavy Bags on Left Shoulder

If you are like most Edmontonians, you commute with a laptop bag, heavy purse or backpack every day. What you may not realise is that you are probably always on your left side. When you hike your left shoulder up every time you walk to keep that strap from sliding off, you are preventing the muscles on the left side from resting.

Constant contraction of the muscles on one side of the body and relaxation on the other causes a “functional scoliosis”, meaning the muscles on your left side become super tight while the muscles on the right side become overly lengthened and weak. Functional scoliosis is one of the most common causes of chronic neck pain on the left side.

Home Remedies: Should I Treat Left-Side Neck Pain Myself?

If you are experiencing neck pain, try the following before you spend money seeing someone:

Ice/Heat Pack – If you are in the early stages of pain and feel sharp discomfort when you turn your head, apply a cold pack for up to 48 hours to decrease inflammation. After 48 hours, try applying a warm compress to loosen up any tight muscles.

Computer/Chair Height – Make sure your computer monitor is at eye level, and your chair is supportive.

Range of Motion – Until you know exactly what is causing your pain, stick to slow, comfortable movements. Never push your neck beyond where you feel a sharp “ping”.

Roll your Shoulders Back – Remind yourself to roll your shoulders back and down several times a day to open up your “computer hunched” position.

When Should I Seek Professional Help? Recognising the Red Flags

Muscle pain gets better on its own most of the time. But there are some telltale signs that your body is waving a big fat “check engine light” on your dashboard. It’s always a good idea to address the problem when your body sends you these notifications before it turns into a serious condition.

Go see your physiotherapist if you experience any of the following:

• Numbness/Tingling – Does your neck pain travel down your left arm or into your fingers? Did you know that pain is actually your nerves telling you something is wrong? If you feel numbness/tingling along with your neck pain, you may have a pinched nerve root.
• Weakness – Do you feel like you can barely lift up your coffee mug? Or if texting with your left hand seems weak when compared to your right. These are signs that there may be some nerve involvement.
• Pain that lasts longer than 5–7 days – If you have tried ice, heat, and a range of motion exercises and your pain is still there after a week, there may be something else going on mechanically.
• Headaches – Do you experience headaches daily or several times a week? Tension headaches typically start at the base of your skull and wrap around the left side of your head.
• Previous Injury – Did your neck pain start after you were in a car accident or fell? Even if you feel fine now, it’s good to get checked out to make sure there isn’t any structural damage.

So you’re sitting there asking yourself, “Should I tough it out or see someone?” If you have any of the symptoms above, it’s better to be safe than sorry! Chances are, if you catch it early, you will recover much quicker and can get back to your life.

How Vira Physiotherapy Can Help You!

When you walk into Vira Physiotherapy, you are NOT just another case of neck pain. We know that everyone walks through that door with different goals, desires, and lives they want to live. That’s why our approach to helping you combat neck pain on the left side is always thorough, evidence-based, and highly motivating.

Thorough Assessment

There is no magic formula for neck pain. In order to create a truly customized treatment plan, your physiotherapist will assess more than just your neck! They will look at how your thoracic spine (mid back) moves, shoulder mobility, and even your breathing pattern. By determining what is causing excessive stress on your left side, they can start guiding you towards lasting improvements.

Tailored Treatment

Treatment at Vira may include, but is not limited to:

• Mobilization - Using manual techniques to move stiff joints and release deep tissue muscles.
• IMS or Dry Needling - Helps to “reset” muscles that have become stuck in a constant state of contraction.
• Home Exercise Program – Equip you with a “toolbox” of exercises to continue strengthening weak areas and improving function.
• Education – Teach you how to prevent neck pain in the future! This could mean ergonomic setups or stress management techniques.

Conclusion

Neck pain can be such a debilitating thing to live with. But understand that no pain lasts forever. The body is AMAZING at recovering from injuries, as long as you give it the tools it needs to heal. Learn about what caused your pain, treat yourself at home when you can, and seek professional help when you should. You’ve got this!

FAQs related to Neck Pain on the Left Side

Can stress cause neck pain on one side?

Yes! Stress usually shows up physically in the form of a “hitch” in the shoulders. Most people tend to hold more tension in one shoulder over the other when sitting at a desk or driving. Due to this uneven contraction of muscles on one side of the body, you can develop pain/stiffness isolated to the left or right side.

Should I stretch my neck if it hurts on the left?

Only if you know the cause of your neck pain! If you strained your neck muscle, stretching can help. However, if you have a pinched nerve or are in the acute stages of inflammation, stretching too much can make you worse. Until you know exactly what is causing your pain, stick to slow, pain-free movements.

How long does it take for a pinched nerve in the neck to heal?

With proper physiotherapy, most pinched nerves (cervical radiculopathy) start to improve within 4–6 weeks. However, it can take some patients a few months to feel 100% again. Just remember that with consistent physiotherapy, you will recover MUCH faster.