Why Am I Having Muscle Pain on the Right Side of My Body Only?

Family Medicine, Primary Care Roots Community Health Center, Hippo Education, Kameda Medical Center

Supervised by Kenji Taylor, MD

Muscle pain on just one side of your body can be caused by things like an injury, a nerve issue, or a specific muscle problem that only affects that side.

Explanation

When you have muscle pain only on one side, it may be due to several reasons. One possibility is an injury or overuse that strained the muscles on that side. This might have happened if you used one side more than the other or if you hurt it during physical activity. Another possibility is a nerve problem. Sometimes, nerve issues such as diabetic radiculopathy or other conditions can cause pain that stays on one side of your body because the nerve is not working properly. In addition, some muscle problems happen only in one area. For example, a small herniation in the muscle or a muscle that has become bigger because it is reacting to extra stress can create localized pain. Each of these conditions can lead to pain that feels like it is coming from one particular side. It’s important to see a doctor if the pain continues, worsens, or makes it difficult to move. They can help determine the specific cause and suggest treatments like stretches, medications, or other therapies to help you feel better.

(References)

Chaudhuri KR, Wren DR, Werring D, Watkins PJ. Unilateral abdominal muscle herniation with pain: a distinctive variant of diabetic radiculopathy. Diabet Med. 1997 Sep;14(9):803-7. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1096-9136(199709)14:9<803::AID-DIA465>3.0.CO;2-E. PMID: 9300233.
Katsetos CD, Bianchi MA, Jaffery F, Koutzaki S, Zarella M, Slater R. Painful unilateral temporalis muscle enlargement: reactive masticatory muscle hypertrophy. Head Neck Pathol. 2014 Jun;8(2):187-93. doi: 10.1007/s12105-013-0480-x. Epub 2013 Jul 31. PMID: 23900775; PMCID: PMC4022940.
Stochkendahl MJ, Christensen HW. Chest pain in focal musculoskeletal disorders. Med Clin North Am. 2010 Mar;94(2):259-73. doi: 10.1016/j.mcna.2010.01.007. PMID: 20380955.

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