What Makes the Left Side of Your Neck Hurt?

Pain on the left side of your neck usually happens due to an injury. However, certain health issues can also be the reason for neck discomfort.

Pain on the left side of your neck can happen for various reasons, like strained muscles or a pinched nerve. Most of the time, it’s not a serious issue.

If your neck feels sore, it could be because you slept in a weird position or held your neck in a way that stressed the muscles and tendons on that side.

Usually, the pain on the left side of your neck will go away on its own or with over-the-counter pain relievers and rest. But if your pain is really bad, comes from a recent injury, or sticks around for more than a week, it’s a good idea to see a doctor.

Keep reading to find out about some common and not-so-common things that can cause pain on the left side of your neck, and how doctors might figure out what’s going on and treat it.

Common Causes

1. Inflammation

2. Muscle strain

3. Pinched nerve

4. Whiplash

5. Acute torticollis

Less Common Causes

1. Cervical fracture