What are the possible causes of neck pain on only one side?

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Tense neck muscles, whiplash, and a pinched nerve are among the most common causes of neck pain. Muscle tension often stems from poor posture or stress, while whiplash typically follows sudden impact injuries. A pinched nerve occurs when surrounding tissue compresses a nerve, causing pain, tingling, or weakness.

Because these conditions share overlapping symptoms but require different treatments, identifying the underlying cause matters. A free, instant, online symptom check can help you clarify your symptoms, understand possible causes, and decide on the right next steps—whether that's self-care, seeing a primary care doctor, or consulting a specialist. Taking a few minutes now could save you time, worry, and unnecessary discomfort later.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/14/2026

Important Next Steps

Learn if your neck pain needs care Discover likely causes of neck pain Find out if neck pain is serious See OTC options for neck pain Find a doctor for neck pain Understand home remedies for neck pain Check possible causes of neck pain

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Explanation

If there is pain only on one side of the neck, it is primarily due to abnormalities that occur in the muscles or nerves around the neck. Specifically, the following causes can be considered.

Tense Neck Muscles

When an unnatural posture of the neck is maintained for a long time during sleep, using your smartphone, muscles can become tense on one side. Tense muscles can lead to pain and stiffness on only one side of the neck when you wake up or having been doing some activity for an extended period of time.

Whiplash

Whiplash injuries can occur when the head is jerked back and forth due to a rear-end collision or similar accidents, causing damage to the muscles around the cervical spine. If the impact occurs more on one side, it is possible that pain may be more pronounced on that side.

Pinched Nerve

The nerves in the neck can be compressed by the cervical vertebrae or intervertebral discs, causing pain on one side of the neck. The pain often spreads not only to the neck but also to the shoulders, back, and arms. If you're experiencing persistent neck pain and want to better understand what might be causing it, try our free AI symptom checker to get personalized insights about your symptoms.

(References)

Cohen SP. Epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of neck pain. Mayo Clin Proc. 2015 Feb;90(2):284-99. doi: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2014.09.008. PMID: 25659245.
Fandim JV, Nitzsche R, Michaleff ZA, Pena Costa LO, Saragiotto B. The contemporary management of neck pain in adults. Pain Manag. 2021 Jan;11(1):75-87. doi: 10.2217/pmt-2020-0046. Epub 2020 Nov 25. PMID: 33234017.
Kazeminasab S, Nejadghaderi SA, Amiri P, Pourfathi H, Araj-Khodaei M, Sullman MJM, Kolahi AA, Safiri S. Neck pain: global epidemiology, trends and risk factors. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2022 Jan 3;23(1):26. doi: 10.1186/s12891-021-04957-4. PMID: 34980079; PMCID: PMC8725362.

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