Pain in right side of neck is common and is usually followed by a headache. According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, pain in neck may arise due to defect in the soft tissue. This also includes ligaments, muscles, nerve, spinal bone, and joints. Pain in neck can vary from mild to severe and if the pain is very severe good rest is recommended.The main reason for pain in neck is due to wrong posture. It is therefore recommended to maintain a good posture so as to avoid neck pain from the start. Another reason for neck pain is rigorous physical activity. Excessive exercising may strain the neck muscles and cause severe pain in neck. If the pain in neck is very serious then a doctor should be consulted right away.
Symptoms of pain in right side of neck
Some of the signs and symptoms that may accompany pain in right side of neck are listed below:
- Dizziness
- Numb feeling
- Irritability
- Poor concentration
- Inflammation
- Loss of memory
- Tingling feeling in arms
- Weakness
- Sudden electric-like feeling in arms
Causes of pain in right side of neck
- Excessive workout:A muscle pull may occur during workout if it is done in excess or very fast. This may further stress the neck muscles and cause severe pain on right side of neck.A balancedworkout will help prevent overstressing the neck muscles.
- Blow to the neck:When practicing sports and martial arts one can experience a blow to the neck. This further causes severe pain in neck. To reduce the swelling one can opt for a cool compress first and then apply a warm compressafter some time. This will help the affected area to relax and improve in the circulation of blood.
- Stress: Extreme stress can make the muscles numb and also lead to neck pain.
- Trigeminal Neuralgia: If a person suffers from excruciating pain in the right side of neck then it can be sign of ‘Trigeminal Neuralgia.’ This is associated to the trigeminal nerve lesion and medicines like Tegretol can be taken to ease the pain. Patients are however advised to consult a neurologist for the right treatment.
- Injuries:Injuries to the neck muscles and tissues lead to pain in neck. A few kinds of injuries include:
- Whiplash:It usually results in neck sprain and strain. A whiplash is characterized by injury to the soft tissues, resulting in pain on both the sides of neck. It happens due to injuries and people usually suffer from whiplash because of motor accidents. Whiplash comprises of many symptoms that take place suddenly after a rapid extension and flexion injuries in neck. Some symptoms connected with whiplash are dizzy feeling, numb feeling in arm, loss of memory, stiff neck, pain radiating from neck to shoulders, increased irritation, poor concentration, and nervousness.
- Brachial plexus injury: Brachial plexus injuries cause pain in right side of neck which radiates to the upper shoulders. It includes injuries to the nervous system, and the brachial plexus which give out signals from spine to shoulder, arms and hands. It may happen when the head and neck are in rigorous action. A research says brachial plexus damages are common in contact sports, but can also happen during falls or motor vehicle accidents.Additional symptoms include pain in shoulder and neck, numbing feeling, sudden sensations down the arm, and weakness.
- Cervical disc herniation: A damaged or herniated cervical disc causes pain in neck, arms and shoulders. It takes place when the ‘annulus fibrosus’, i.e., a fibrous ring which circles the spinal disc, breaks open and allows nucleus pulposus(a jelly-like center part of the spinal disc) to stick out into the spinal canal or the intervertebral foramen.This intervertebral foramen is a hole through which spinal nerve roots (the spinal nerve roots are subsidiaries of the spinal cord) exit the spinal column. If herniated disc squeezes these nerve roots, then one will feel pain in neck and arms. Some of its symptoms are weakness, numbness, and tingling feeling.
Treatment for pain in right side of neck
There are some treatments available for easing the pain in right side of neck. They are as follows:
- Ice pack: Ice packs can be applied on the affected area to ease the pain. It can be applied at least four to five times a day. Let it remain on the neck for approximately fifteen to twenty minutes.
- Heat pack:After the application of ice pack the inflammation lessens and pain reduces. Then a hot water bag or a heating pad can be applied on the affected area.
If a particular job makes a person sustain a wrong posture for prolonged periods, then it may have a very bad effect on the muscles; not only the neck muscles but the muscles of the entire body. This will adversely affect the health, and therefore it is very necessary to keep the correct posture. Prevention is better than cure; it will help to avoid future health and spine problems.