Muscle strain and cervical stenosis can cause shoulder and left side neck pain. Rarer but more serious issues like heart attack or lung cancer can cause it. Several nerves and muscles connect your neck and shoulders. Thus, left-sided pain in both areas is common.
Treatment for Left Neck/Shoulder Pain
Left-sided neck and shoulder pain from some conditions may benefit from home treatments. Initial cervical strain, disc herniation, and stenosis treatments include:
- Using OTC painkillers like Tylenol (acetaminophen) or NSAIDs like Advil/Motrin (ibuprofen) or Aleve (naproxen) to relieve pain.
- Ice the sore for 15–30 minutes several times a day. Applying a moist hot pack to painful areas for 20 minutes
- Briefly wearing a soft neck brace to relieve pressure on injured structures.
- Maintaining activity and avoiding bed rest.
- Gentle neck and shoulder stretches to keep muscles loose.
Contact your doctor if at-home pain treatments fail. Many medical treatments are available depending on the cause of your pain. Some popular ones are:
- PT can relieve strains, spinal stenosis, herniated discs, whiplash, and thoracic outlet syndrome pain. Massage, strengthening, stretching, and pain relief are common PT interventions.
- Stenosis, disc herniations, and thoracic outlet syndrome can cause left side neck pain and inflammation. Corticosteroid injections may help.
- Although the evidence is mixed, acupuncture may help some people with stenosis pain.
- Lung cancer treatment often includes chemotherapy and cancer-fighting drugs. Anti-artery-blocking drugs may be given urgently during a heart attack.
- Surgeries: Cervical fractures often require spinal surgery to stabilize the vertebrae. Stenosis or disc bulges may require a laminectomy or discectomy as a last resort to relieve spinal nerve pressure. After a heart attack, angioplasty, coronary bypass, or stenting is often needed. Conservative treatments may fail, so thoracic outlet decompression is performed.
Prevention
All causes of left-sided neck and shoulder pain can’t be prevented. Stress, tension, bad posture, or muscle strain can cause neck and shoulder pain. Here are some ways to relax:
- Relax: Regularly practice breathwork, meditation, yoga, journaling, or other relaxing activities. Stress, tension, poor sleep, and posture can cause neck and shoulder pain. Managing stress can help.
- Change your sleep position: Adjusting your sleep position may prevent neck and shoulder pain. Neck and shoulder pain is best avoided by sleeping on your side or back. You should also use a supportive pillow and mattress to align your neck and spine while sleeping.
- Take breaks and stretch: Long-term computer and chair users can strain their neck and shoulders. If so, take frequent breaks to stretch while working. Keep your neck and shoulders relaxed by checking in periodically.
- Good posture: Poor posture can damage your neck and shoulders. If you sit a lot, use an ergonomic chair with lumbar support and put your computer at eye level. Instead of hunching over your phone, bring it to eye level if you use it often. Always stand tall with equal weight on both feet.
- Stay active: Preventing neck and shoulder pain requires core strength training. Strong core muscles support neck and spine alignment and posture. It also evenly distributes weight, reducing tension and imbalances on one side.
When to Visit a Doctor
Visit pain management in plano if your left neck and shoulder pain worsens despite at-home treatments. You should also call your doctor after a trauma or injury. Urgent pain or pain that radiates down your left side should be treated as a medical emergency. Visit the ER if you also have:
- Chest pain
- Numbness, tingling, or weakness
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness, headaches
- Fever, chills
- Unexpected weight loss
- Neurological symptoms like confusion or loss of consciousness
Summary
Many conditions can cause left-sided neck and shoulder pain. These range from neck strains to heart attacks. Look for related symptoms to diagnose your pain. Physical therapy, painkillers, medications, and surgery may be recommended after a neck pain doctor in plano evaluation. Strengthening your core, improving your posture, and relaxing your muscles may help prevent shoulder and left side neck pain.