What To Do About Right Side Neck Pain When Breathing

What Causes Right Side Neck Pain When Breathing?

Experiencing breathing pain on the right side of one’s neck isn’t all that uncommon. Usually, there is a related cause involving muscle strains or other musculoskeletal trauma to the cervical spine. Due to the complex nature of nerves and tissues surrounding our vertebrae, it makes it possible that pinched nerves or inflamed muscles could result in pain throughout different parts of our bodies – including when we breathe.

Overall, the most likely reason you experience right side neck pain when breathing is due to one or more of the following:

• Bruised soft tissues
• Muscle strains and sprains
• Pinched nerves
• Blunt force trauma injuries
• Whiplash injury
• Cervical herniated discs

Seeing a medical professional for minimal discomfort isn’t usually necessary since over-the-counter anti-inflammatories and rest will provide the needed relief. Still, visiting with a trusted physician prior to taking this course of action is important as one could experience delayed onset of more serious injury symptoms. Your New York neck injury doctor can best assess your situation and prescribe stronger care options for neck pain that won’t remedy itself quickly.

Home Treatment Options for Right Side Neck Pain When Breathing

Whether you suffered a workman’s comp injury or found yourself in the middle of a fender bender, you probably hurt a lot right now. Fortunately, a lot of instances involving pain in the right side of your neck when breathing will remedy itself after a week or so by simply resting, gently stretching, and performing exercises to help strengthen supporting muscle groups.

A New York pain management doctor may recommend a combination of the below home treatment options after properly diagnosing your right side neck pain when breathing:

• Use over-the-counter pain relievers
• Apply moist heat to the affected area of your neck to alleviate stiffness
• Therapeutic massage and manipulation of the cervical spine
• Stretching your neck regularly
• Use ice to combat inflammation
• Perform good posture at all times to avoid distributing spinal stress unevenly
• Change your sleeping position to now support your neck
• Perform strengthening exercises
• Intermittent periods of rest to allow your neck time to heal

If simple home remedy options do not prove effective, a more focused treatment on your neck injury may be needed.

Medical Care For Right Side Neck Pain When Breathing

While one might insist on trying to deal with neck pain and trauma from home at first, seeking a medical assessment should happen first. Even if you want to avoid major medical intervention, it’s critical to know the level of damage you sustained and what will and won’t work for your condition.

Your doctor might recommend some of the following additional treatments:

• Prescription-strength pain relief
• Muscle relaxers
• Medicated epidural injections into your cervical spine
• Physical therapy
• Case-specific surgical options if needed

The important thing to remember is that any pain when breathing should receive medical attention right away. Don’t put off a diagnosis if your right side neck pain when breathing appears after a major car accident or worker’s compensation injury. Long-term complications from not receiving appropriate medical care can devastate your mobility and leave you with a lifetime of needless suffering.

When To See A Doctor for Right Side Neck Pain?

If you experience neck pain on the right side, it is important to seek medical attention. While neck pain can be caused by several different factors, it could also be indicative of a more serious condition. 

Neck pain that does not diminish with home treatment or gets worse over time is a solid reason to see a doctor. If you experience pain that radiates into your arms or legs, you should also seek medical attention. 

Some risk factors can increase your chances of developing neck pain. These include working in an office or driving for long periods of time. If you have a sedentary lifestyle, you may be more likely to experience neck pain as well. 

If you are experiencing neck pain, it is vital to see a doctor to rule out any serious underlying conditions. Once a diagnosis has been made, your doctor will be able to recommend the best course of treatment to help relieve your neck pain. 

Find experienced pain management doctors who specialize in the treatment of right side neck pain from our directory of doctors in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Doctors in our free directory accept workers’ compensation, no-fault, PIP (Personal Injury Protection), medical liens, LOPs (letters of protection), and most health insurance plans. Contact us at 800-897-8440.