Pain in the right side of the neck is common among millions of Americans. Sometimes pain in the right side of your neck can be due to something as simple as falling asleep in an odd position, while other times it can be caused by a more serious condition in the cervical region of your spine. Chronic right side neck pain can effectively be treated once diagnosed properly. If you are experiencing pain in the right side of your neck that does not subside with rest, you could be suffering from a more complicated issue related to your spinal health.

Degenerative Disc Disease

One potential cause of right side neck pain is known as degenerative disc disease. Degenerative disc disease is caused when the discs in your spine that serve as intermediaries between our spinal vertebrae begin to degenerate, causing pain in the right side of your neck. Degenerative disc disease can occur naturally over time or be caused by an injury. Chances are, if you are experiencing this condition, your discs have already begun deteriorating well before you began experiencing neck pain. If you do have degenerative disc disease, your pain may worsen whilst lifting your arms above your head or doing certain twists and bends — including sitting.

Herniated Disc

In many cases, right side neck pain associated with numbness and or pain is caused by a herniated disc. A herniated disc is also referred to as a slipped or prolapsed disc and is a condition in which a disc in your spine gets damaged and the inner gelatinous portion begins to protrude through the harder outer portion of the disc. Some indicators that you have a herniated disc are right side neck pain that worsens while standing or walking, aches and pains that get worse in the nighttime, and tingling or burning sensations in the extremities. Many patients experiencing these symptoms find lasting relief in surgery. Consult with a licensed spine surgeon to further discuss your treatment options.

Pinched Nerve

Having pain in the right side of your neck can also be the result of a pinched nerve. This can cause numbness and pain in the right shoulder. If your nerves become pinched or compressed by a bone, muscle, or disc, you may experience tingling throughout the arms legs or neck which can sometimes turn into a burning sensation. If you have any reason to believe that you may have pinched a nerve in the right side of your neck, consult a spine surgeon for a professional diagnosis.

Acute Torticollis

If you wake up with a twisted or stiff neck, you may be suffering from acute torticollis. Acute torticollis can be a cause of right side neck pain that spreads to your shoulder, the middle of your neck, or even up through the back of your head. It can reduce your neck mobility and cause neck spasms when applying pressure to the affected areas on the right side of your neck. Rare cases of torticollis may reveal an even more serious underlying condition, such as a spinal injury.

Osteoarthritis

If your right side neck pain is more noticeable in the morning when you wake up then throughout the day or when it is cold out rather than when the sun is shining, you may have osteoarthritis. Some other symptoms common to this condition are right side neck pain, headaches in the back of the head, and stiffness. Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage in between the joint connecting two bones either begins to erode or disintegrates completely. This condition is generally associated with wear and tear as a result of old age or abnormal amount of usage as well as injuries in younger people.

Cysts or Tumors

If you have a mass in the side of your neck that is causing you pain, you could be dealing with a cyst or tumors. Not all cysts and tumors are obvious, so there’s no guarantee that you’ll catch it right away. Don’t panic, as many of them end up being benign (non-cancerous). There can be many causes of tumors in the right side of your neck, and the underlying cause will determine the treatment plan. If you are experiencing right side neck pain and you think it may be a cyst or tumor, the earlier it is detected the more effective the treatment plan will be.

Brachial Plexus Injury

An injury in your brachial plexus is usually tied to a sports injury. Severity of symptoms can range from slight numbness in the right side of your neck to severely debilitating pain that affects your quality of life. The brachial plexus is a group of nerves that send signals to your shoulder through the elbow and all the way to your hand. It is possible during or after an injury to lose feeling and function throughout your entire right arm. If you are experiencing these symptoms and are not seeing any signs of improvement, it is very important to schedule a screening so you can receive an accurate diagnosis. Although surgery is not typically required it is suggested that patients regularly visit with a physician following diagnosis of this condition. In some severe cases surgery will be required after a month of visits. Nerves regenerate at a slow rate and it is pertinent to an expedient recovery that you follow the instructions of an orthopedic professional.

Whiplash

Whiplash is a very common source of right side neck pain that occurs when your head jolts forward and backwards in a rapid motion. This motion affects the neck and can have lasting effects on the cervical spine. If you experience whiplash, even if you are only suffering from a small amount of pain, it is important to seek professional medical attention immediately.

Other Causes

There are a few other causes of right side neck pain such as bone disorders (present since birth or developed), infections, rheumatoid arthritis, and cancer. Regardless of what is causing pain in the right side of your neck, it is crucial to your well-being to consult an orthopedic physician immediately to determine the cause of your pain. The neck often has a thankless job and we don’t think twice about its importance in supporting our head and controlling our arms until pain appears. Fortunately, supporting cervical health is simple with the help of an experienced team of orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons.