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Back/side of neck more prominent than other side

31 replies

Bex4567 · 09/05/2025 21:47

Hi
So i was feeling ny neck and noticed at the back /side of my neck on the left side its more prominet and fuller than the right side...
I think its the muscle and when i went to the docters she couldnt feel anything worrying and no lymph nodes were up said its my muscle in neck
Ive then gone shraight to neck cancer...
Is anyone else neck musculer one side to the other at the back-side not front

OP posts:
SoScarletItWas · 10/05/2025 05:52

Everyone has a dominant side, like being left handed or right handed. One side’s muscle will be stronger than the other because you use it more often (without even realising).

The GP is right and leaping straight to cancer is OTT. Stop feeling your neck and put it out of your mind!

Bex4567 · 10/05/2025 07:29

Im right handed tho and its on the left side

OP posts:
Toootss · 10/05/2025 07:45

I’ve been told I have one leg longer than the other by a physio, I can see that one side of my ribs stands out more than the other and my cheeks are lopsided due to my teeth on one side meeting much better than the other so I do all my chewing on one side.
Most people aren’t exact -perhaps do some yoga stretches regularly to straighten your spine up.

Bex4567 · 10/05/2025 11:13

Toootss · 10/05/2025 07:45

I’ve been told I have one leg longer than the other by a physio, I can see that one side of my ribs stands out more than the other and my cheeks are lopsided due to my teeth on one side meeting much better than the other so I do all my chewing on one side.
Most people aren’t exact -perhaps do some yoga stretches regularly to straighten your spine up.

Im right handed tho and its the left sided ...i have like slight ear ach3 aswell that side so that dont help.

I think its muscle and docter couldnt feel anything but 🤦‍♀️worried its a griwth on muscle as its harder a more fuller that side

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HobnobsChoice · 10/05/2025 11:20

Does either side feel tight or do you have difficulty turning your head fully to the side. I'm right handed but sleep on my front with my head to the left with the result I've got very tight neck muscles on the right from being stretched into one position for 6 hours at a time. Also look at how you lie in bed when reading or sit when watching TV. I tend to lie in one side with the pillow propping up my head so my neck is bent one way (lying on my left) pushing my ear to my right shoulder. Again this is causing an imbalance and my left side is stretched and the right side is being compressed. I do stretches to try to reduce the tightness and try to change my position as often as I can.

Bex4567 · 10/05/2025 11:51

HobnobsChoice · 10/05/2025 11:20

Does either side feel tight or do you have difficulty turning your head fully to the side. I'm right handed but sleep on my front with my head to the left with the result I've got very tight neck muscles on the right from being stretched into one position for 6 hours at a time. Also look at how you lie in bed when reading or sit when watching TV. I tend to lie in one side with the pillow propping up my head so my neck is bent one way (lying on my left) pushing my ear to my right shoulder. Again this is causing an imbalance and my left side is stretched and the right side is being compressed. I do stretches to try to reduce the tightness and try to change my position as often as I can.

Im just curipus to np if others peoples back or side of necks are symetrical.
Its not massivaly different and i no normal people wouldnt poke around like me to fimd stuff.
Just worried its not a tumour

OP posts:
SoScarletItWas · 10/05/2025 11:57

Ok I just explored. In the right side of my neck I have a much more defined, harder area (tendon?) that isn’t there on my left. I can push it further forward under my chin than I can on the left. My left shoulder where it joins my neck sits higher than the right, as if the muscle is fatter and harder along the top.

I also have regular ‘patches’ of two types of skin cancer and get scanned regularly for any internal ‘outbreaks’, as I call them. Never picked up a single thing. Hence I am trying to reassure you. Bodies are lumpy. Cysts, inflamed muscles, fatty bits… You’ve had it checked out, try and relax about it.

Notasbiganissue · 10/05/2025 11:59

Is it possibly a lipoma ? It’s a common area to have one and they can lead to the appearance of a raised area ? Ask your Gp to arrange a scan

NeverDropYourMooncup · 10/05/2025 12:04

Bex4567 · 10/05/2025 11:13

Im right handed tho and its the left sided ...i have like slight ear ach3 aswell that side so that dont help.

I think its muscle and docter couldnt feel anything but 🤦‍♀️worried its a griwth on muscle as its harder a more fuller that side

You've got a crappy pillow (or too many of them) so you're sleeping with your neck bent and probably slightly dodgy posture during the day - got a heavy bag by any chance?

Bex4567 · 10/05/2025 12:18

Notasbiganissue · 10/05/2025 11:59

Is it possibly a lipoma ? It’s a common area to have one and they can lead to the appearance of a raised area ? Ask your Gp to arrange a scan

Its not that its hard as if its muscle..everythung just feels harder amd more promiment on left side to right its not at fromt of neck its back and side...no obvuous lumps to see and if i hadmt of. Pocked aeound prob wpuldnt of noticed.
Just dont no how my left side can be more prominemt when im right hamded..amd how can u tell its muscle amd not a hard tumour

OP posts:
SoScarletItWas · 10/05/2025 12:22

Yes, and my right thigh is like rock and my left is a weakling. We are naturally stronger on one side. Kindly OP, put the phone down and go get some sunshine. You shouldn’t be worrying about this!

Ahsheeit · 10/05/2025 12:26

Gentle question - do you suffer from health anxiety? Your GP has no concerns, and I don't think anything anyone says here will reassure you properly. Just remember that human bodies aren't symmetrical.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 10/05/2025 13:15

how can u tell its muscle amd not a hard tumour

Ask a doctor who knows what muscle feels like? You've done that, she's confirmed it's just muscle. It's therefore muscle and not a tumour.

Bex4567 · 10/05/2025 16:04

NeverDropYourMooncup · 10/05/2025 13:15

how can u tell its muscle amd not a hard tumour

Ask a doctor who knows what muscle feels like? You've done that, she's confirmed it's just muscle. It's therefore muscle and not a tumour.

They may have missed it2

OP posts:
Bex4567 · 10/05/2025 16:56

Ahsheeit · 10/05/2025 12:26

Gentle question - do you suffer from health anxiety? Your GP has no concerns, and I don't think anything anyone says here will reassure you properly. Just remember that human bodies aren't symmetrical.

Thsnkyou for your comment ..im just concerned they may have missed something not sure how diffetent a tumour would feel to a muscle it just seems harder thats all to the otther side

OP posts:
Bex4567 · 10/05/2025 16:57

SoScarletItWas · 10/05/2025 12:22

Yes, and my right thigh is like rock and my left is a weakling. We are naturally stronger on one side. Kindly OP, put the phone down and go get some sunshine. You shouldn’t be worrying about this!

If it was thw right side i would think ok maybe lol but coz its the left side im like how 🤦‍♀️lol

OP posts:
BeNiceWhenItsFinished · 10/05/2025 17:07

Go and see an osteopath privately. They are fairly reasonable for one appointment. They will check your posture, look at your back and neck alignment, whether your shoulders are level, if your hips are square, you name it. Any of those things could cause the difference you have.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 10/05/2025 17:15

Bex4567 · 10/05/2025 16:04

They may have missed it2

They haven't missed anything.

It's a tight muscle, not a tumour. Sort your pillows out, sort your posture out and it'll be fine.

Bex4567 · 10/05/2025 19:01

NeverDropYourMooncup · 10/05/2025 17:15

They haven't missed anything.

It's a tight muscle, not a tumour. Sort your pillows out, sort your posture out and it'll be fine.

Just scary when it feels more harder and prominent makes you wander weather 5hings are bad 😢

OP posts:
Bex4567 · 11/05/2025 14:20

Anyone else had this please

OP posts:
BeNiceWhenItsFinished · 11/05/2025 17:13

@Bex4567 Yes. And according to my osteopath it is because my hips aren't square, one leg is 1/2 inch longer than the other, I am very right-handed, I've been sitting at a desk using a computer at work for decades, and I also have slight scoliosis of the spine. So my whole body is out of alignment. The first time I went, they found that my skull wasn't properly on top of my neck bones, and had to be manipulated into position.

When you look in the mirror, you can see that my neck isn't vertical and the muscles on one side are larger than the other.

All of which is why I suggested upthread that you go to see an osteopath so they can check you over.

Bex4567 · 11/05/2025 21:50

BeNiceWhenItsFinished · 11/05/2025 17:13

@Bex4567 Yes. And according to my osteopath it is because my hips aren't square, one leg is 1/2 inch longer than the other, I am very right-handed, I've been sitting at a desk using a computer at work for decades, and I also have slight scoliosis of the spine. So my whole body is out of alignment. The first time I went, they found that my skull wasn't properly on top of my neck bones, and had to be manipulated into position.

When you look in the mirror, you can see that my neck isn't vertical and the muscles on one side are larger than the other.

All of which is why I suggested upthread that you go to see an osteopath so they can check you over.

But im right handed too and this is on the left of my neck that ls why im confused . Would understand if it was theother side

OP posts:
BeNiceWhenItsFinished · 12/05/2025 13:47

My neck issue is also on the left hand side and I'm right-handed.

Stop turning yourself inside-out with worry and go and see a HCP.

Bex4567 · 12/05/2025 14:25

BeNiceWhenItsFinished · 12/05/2025 13:47

My neck issue is also on the left hand side and I'm right-handed.

Stop turning yourself inside-out with worry and go and see a HCP.

I hhave and she said she cant feel anything no lypth nodes up nothimg but its clearly more hard and fuller tham other side

OP posts:
BeNiceWhenItsFinished · 12/05/2025 14:30

Well perhaps you could go back again and see another doctor or practice nurse, or book a private appointment with an osteopath, like I keep saying.