Left Side Of Neck Hurts After Sleeping | Causes | Solutions |

With the rise in conditions like ‘tech neck’, neck pain is sadly more common than ever. While many factors that result in neck pain cannot really be controlled, there are some lifestyle choices that can help you reduce the pain.

 

Waking up with a sore neck is never a good feeling. And complaints like ‘left side of neck hurts after sleeping’ are never encouraging. There are many different causes that can contribute to neck pain at night. Today, we’ll be going through most of them and the different ways to mitigate them.

How your sleeping habits are responsible for the left side of neck hurting after sleep:

Sleep is essential for your body to function at its best. When we’re asleep, our body repairs muscles, organs and other cells. Hormones that boost the immune system also start circulating during sleep. 

 

In addition, research has found that risk for osteoporosis increases with sleep deprivation. The many health benefits of sleep only make the neck pain that follows more frustrating. Keeping that in mind, let’s learn the different causes of neck pain after sleep:

Sleeping position:

The position that you sleep in can have a great impact on your overall health. This means that there are certain sleeping positions that can make your conditions worse, while some others can help alleviate pain.

 

When it comes to neck pain, sleeping on your stomach is the worst thing that you can do. This is because when you sleep on your stomach, your neck and spine are not properly aligned as you have to turn your head to one side. This twisting of your neck eventually leads to neck pain. 

 

So, sleeping on your stomach without proper support can worsen the strain and discomfort in your neck.

 

This particular cause can be neutralized by changing your sleeping position, although that is easier said than done. Sleeping on your back and side is much easier on your neck and spine, and can be the solution you are looking for to reduce neck pain after sleeping.

 

You can also try thinner pillows and firmer mattresses while sleeping on your stomach if changing your sleeping position abruptly seems too daunting.

Pillows:

While pillows have a limited amount of impact compared to sleeping positions, the type of pillow you use is still a significant factor for neck pain. 

If you’re not seeing better results even after sleeping on your side or back, you should look into the type of pillow you use.

 

Research shows that using pillows made of materials like latex or memory foam that provide good neck support can play a big role in reducing neck pain. 

 

Similarly, pillow height that allows for lateral position of the neck support area works wonders when it comes to reducing neck pain after sleeping.

 

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Conditions for left side of neck hurting after sleep:

There are certain conditions that result in the left side of the neck hurting after sleep. In this section we will go over them:

Neck arthritis:

Neck arthritis is common for folks above 60. As the name suggests, swelling and tenderness of one or more joints(arthritis) in the neck is called neck arthritis.

 

Due to the wear and tear of joints as we age, neck arthritis is particularly prevalent among the older population. The tenderness of joints can get worse during nights, causing neck pain after sleeping.

Muscle Strains:

Muscle strains are another common cause of neck pain. A consequence of hunching over your desk for hours, muscle strains can be triggered when sleeping, resulting in neck pain after sleeping.

Nerve compression:

Also called ‘pinched nerve in neck’, cervical radiculopathy is a condition that causes radiating pain, weakness and numbness in the neck.

 

A result of nerve compression of the neck, this condition worsens when you extend or strain your neck. Straining one’s neck while asleep can result in a lot of pain if you have a pinched nerve in the neck.

 

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Mitigating neck pain after sleeping:

Now that we’ve discussed the different causes for neck pain after sleeping, we’ll be discussing the solutions to mitigate it:

• Change your sleeping position: Instead of sleeping on your stomach, sleep on your side or back to reduce pain.
• Get better pillows: Pillows made up of latex and memory foam have proven to reduce neck pain. Similarly, make sure the pillow you are using allows for lateral position of the neck support area. This can be done by adjusting the pillow height.
• Hot and cold therapy: Both ice and heat therapy can relieve neck pain. You can use ice(through a frozen towel or a bag of ice) for the first 48 to 72 hours of neck pain and then follow it up by heat therapy through hot showers or heating pads.
• Neck exercises: You can try neck stretches and exercises if your pain is mild. If not, you should consult your doctor first. It is best to avoid neck stretches if you are suffering from a pinched nerve in the neck. 

If your neck pain after sleeping is severe and persists over a long period of time, you should consult a doctor for their professional opinion.

 

You can book a consultation here.