3 Causes of Left-Sided Neck Pain

If you’ve ever woken up with a crick in your neck, you’ve likely assumed it was because you slept in an awkward position. In most cases, you’d be right. The most common cause of left-sided neck pain is muscle strain caused by benign triggers like sleeping in an odd position or whiplash.

However, in some cases, left-sided neck pain is caused by other culprits, such as underlying neurological conditions. If you’re experiencing persistent or severe neck pain, even if it seems to stem from a pulled muscle, you should have an expert examine it. 

In Tampa, Florida, Dr. Phillip Henkin at the NeuroSpine Center has more than 30 years of expertise in identifying and treating the underlying causes of left-sided neck pain caused by neurological issues.

Here, he outlines three causes of left-sided neck pain that warrant a visit to a neurologist and how to treat it best.

Three causes of left-sided neck pain

You should never ignore persistent neck pain, especially when other symptoms like fatigue and numbness accompany it. Three causes of left-sided neck pain with neurological origins include:

Cervical radiculopathy

Cervical radiculopathy is a condition that causes a nerve in the neck to become pinched or irritated. The sensation is similar to the feeling you get when your arm or foot falls asleep. Other spinal issues, such as a herniated disc or arthritis, typically trigger it.

In addition to neck pain, you might feel numbness, tingling, or weakness in your arm or hand. Ignoring these symptoms can lead to chronic pain or lasting nerve damage. At NeuroSpine Center, we use advanced imaging tests to get a clear picture of your neck and create a treatment plan that might include physical therapy, medication, or surgery.

Cervical spinal stenosis

Cervical spinal stenosis occurs when the spinal canal in your neck narrows, putting pressure on the spinal cord and nerve roots. 

The pain can extend beyond your neck to your shoulders or arms, and you might feel tingling, weakness, or even struggle with coordination. The pressure on your spinal cord and nerves caused by spinal stenosis can have significant health implications.

Herniated disc

Between the bones of your spine are discs that act as cushions. A herniated disc occurs when the inner jelly-like core of the disc pushes out through a tear in its exterior, irritating nearby nerves. This condition might cause localized neck pain or, if the herniated disc presses on a nerve, radiating pain, numbness, or weakness in your arm. 

A herniated disc affects more than just the spine; it also affects the surrounding nerves, which means it can affect overall health and quality of life.

Treatment options

At NeuroSpine Center, we offer a range of treatments for left-sided neck pain. We start with conservative methods such as medication and physical therapy. With physical therapy, we arm you with exercises and pain management techniques to improve your strength and flexibility, eventually relieving pain. 

To manage pain and inflammation, Dr. Henkin also recommends medications, such as anti-inflammatories or muscle relaxants.

In more severe cases, we offer minimally invasive surgeries like discectomy to remove part of a herniated disc, fusion to stabilize your spine, or remove spinal growths pressing on nerves, all to relieve your pain with minimal recovery time.

If you have left-sided neck pain, schedule a consultation with Dr. Henkin online today or call 813-534-4945.