Almost everyone experiences occasional neck pain and stiffness. But when you have a deep, one-sided ache that won’t budge despite weeks of rest and conservative care, a more complex issue may be at play.
Finding lasting relief requires an accurate diagnosis from a spine specialist. At Northeast Ohio Spine Center, orthopedic surgeon Mark Grubb, MD, provides comprehensive evaluations to identify the root cause of your discomfort and determine the most suitable treatment options.
Here’s what could be causing that stubborn, one-sided pain in your neck.
On average, Americans spend upwards of five hours per day on their smartphones. The typical posture people adopt when using devices — head bent down at a 45-degree angle, shoulders slouched — places significant stress on the neck and upper back.
And it’s not just a forward head tilt that causes problems. Leaning awkwardly in your desk chair, cradling a phone against your ear, or sleeping with your head twisted can stretch or strain the muscles and ligaments on one side of your neck, leading to chronic, asymmetrical discomfort.
Your spine contains many joints that support your weight and allow you to bend, twist, and move. Over time, age and daily strain can wear down the cartilage that cushions these joints — a condition called spinal osteoarthritis (OA), or spondylosis.
Without this protective cartilage, bone rubs against bone when you move, creating painful friction. When OA develops in the joints of the neck, or cervical spine, the resulting inflammation can restrict your range of motion and cause sharp pain when you turn your head in one direction.
Your spinal cord is the primary communication line between your brain and the rest of your body. Along the cervical spine, pairs of nerve roots branch off and travel into the shoulders, arms, and hands to control movement and sensation.
When a herniated disc, bone spur, or another structural issue compresses one of these roots, it can lead to a condition known as cervical radiculopathy. In addition to one-sided neck pain, a pinched nerve may also cause numbness, tingling, or burning that radiates into the arm or hand.
The cervical facet joints are small joints located between each vertebra that help guide movement and provide stability. A sudden movement, injury, or even an awkward sleeping position can irritate one of these joints and trigger localized inflammation.
When this happens, the surrounding neck muscles often tighten involuntarily to protect the affected joint from further movement, resulting in chronic stiffness and muscle knots concentrated on one side of the neck.
If your discomfort persists after two to four weeks of at-home care, or if it interferes with your daily responsibilities, it’s time to see a spine specialist like Dr. Grubb. While many instances of neck pain resolve on their own, more complex issues may require clinical intervention to prevent long-term damage.
You don’t have to live with frustrating, one-sided neck pain. Contact Northeast Ohio Spine Center in Mayfield Heights, Ohio, to schedule a consultation and find the answers you need.
