Neck pain, on whatever side, is a much more common discomfort than you imagine. In fact, several studies claim that 7 out of 10 people have suffered or will suffer from neck pain, the most common reasons being stress and tension or poor posture.
Neck pain on the right side
You spend a large part of the day in front of the computer and, little by little, your posture gives way until your shoulders are above your neck. Suddenly, you feel a stiffness in your neck and nape and it starts to hurt. It is a matter of minutes before you begin to notice the symptoms of muscle pain or spasm. Has this ever happened to you?
The causes of neck pain are closely linked to situations of stress, physical exertion or poor posture when sleeping or staying in an inert state. However, there are also indications of more complex diseases whose symptom may be precisely this pain: meningitis, tonsillitis, deviations in the spine, herniated discs, cervical inflation, etc.
In general, neck pain disappears after a week with the help of analgesics and anti-inflammatory ointments, but when the pain increases after 7 days or continues, it is important to see a doctor for a more in-depth diagnosis.
Why does my neck hurt on the right side?
The most common reason why the right side of the neck hurts is called torticollis and many of us have suffered from it at some point in our lives. It is the stiffness of the neck on one side that immobilizes its functions and causes discomfort when trying to move the neck. Among the most common causes of this pain we find the following:
- Muscle pain: occurs when the muscles of the neck and shoulders are tensed due to poor posture. This situation is common when reading, keeping your eyes on the computer or watching television for long periods of time. This discomfort manifests itself as a weight on the shoulders and neck that causes stiffness and makes the muscle area hard to the touch.
- Torticollis: it is a muscle spasm caused by a bad posture when sleeping or by a sudden movement of the neck. When a torticollis occurs, you will find that you feel intense pain on one side of your neck when you try to tilt your head.
- Herniated disc: occurs when there is a displacement of the disc that lives between two vertebrae due to poor posture, spinal wear or accident. This displacement can occur throughout the column. When this pain is more acute in the neck, it means that the displacement has occurred in the vertical disc.
- Cervical inflammation: the cervix is the back of the neck where the cervical vertebrae are located. When inflammation occurs in this area, the muscles, nerves, joints and bones may be affected, which is why you feel pain in more than one area. In addition to stiffness and pain, symptoms of cervical inflammation include extension of the discomfort to the arms, tingling in the hands and upper extremities. From, we advise you to take a look at this detailed article on How to prevent and relieve cervical pain .
- Muscle sprain: known as the “whiplash” effect, it occurs when the neck has suffered a very sudden movement. This movement causes a stretching of the ligaments, rupture of the muscles or sprain in the joints. It is very common in car accidents or during the practice of contact sports such as American football, judo, karate, etc.
Other causes of neck pain
Although these are not the usual causes of neck pain on the right side, they are directly associated with this discomfort. To diagnose yourself with any of these problems, a medical evaluation is essential , which should be attended if the pain does not subside in a week of treatment.
- Meningitis: Meningitis is a very delicate and serious bacterial or viral infection that causes inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain. Some of the various symptoms that it presents are the total stiffness of the neck and the inability to flex it towards the chin.
- Osteoarthritis: It is the product of the wear of the cartilage of the joints of the spine. It occurs in older adults or people who suffer from decalcification problems.
- Bruxism: Neck pain on the right (or left) side can also be due to jaw tension and stiffness from bruxism. You must bear in mind that all the bones of the face are connected to each other and linked to the neck, so that when you bite and move your jaw, the neck area also suffers some discomfort. This article on How to get rid of jaw pain due to stress can be of great help to better understand this problem and remedy it as soon as possible.
- Fibromyalgia: Fibromyalgia is a disease that affects all the muscles and fibrous tissues of the body, including the neck.
Treatment of neck pain on the right side
When the pain is the product of torticollis, the way to relieve it is much simpler than when it comes to another cause. There are medications and exercises that can be very useful, so here are some treatments for neck pain on the right side :
- Pain relievers : Under medical supervision, pain relievers can help to significantly reduce neck pain. You can consult your doctor to diagnose you and see if you are in a position to take an anti-inflammatory to minimize muscle stiffness .
- Compresses: Placing warm compresses on the painful area for 15 minutes also helps to relax the muscles and relieve discomfort.
- Anti-inflammatory ointments: there are a large number of natural and non-aggressive ointments on the market that can help reduce the inflammation of the affected area, which will provide you with a feeling of relief. Avoid massaging the muscle too much when applying the ointment, as this could lead to more stiffness and worsen symptoms.
- Strength exercise: if it is a torticollis or the pain is clearly localized, support your head on the hand on the affected side. The arm must have an angle of 45° in relation to the shoulder and the head. Next, put pressure on the hand, pushing your head towards the affected side.
- Stretching of the neck muscles: a technique that can be very beneficial is to stand up, with your legs apart at shoulder level and flex forward at the waist, letting all your body weight fall on your arms. Then, slowly and carefully rotate your head to stretch the muscles in the area and get them used to the movement.
- Take care of your sleeping position : If you are used to sleeping on your side, placing a pillow between your legs and making sure you have good neck support can be of great help. In this article on How to improve sleeping posture you will find a large number of tips and tricks to avoid similar injuries in the neck area.
If symptoms persist after seven days, it is important to see a doctor for further diagnosis. we value the opinion of specialists when there is a suspicion of an illness or acute discomfort. We hope we have helped you better understand the causes and treatment of neck pain on the right side.
