Anybody can suffer from a sore throat either on the left side or right side or sometimes in front of the neck. It is possible that the left side of the throat hurts due to direct injury and swollen lymph nodes. Sometimes, it becomes difficult to reach the root cause of the problem in the left side of the throat. So, it is always better to consult a doctor.

Causes of the Left Side of Throat Hurts 

To get the proper diagnosis of the left side of the throat, it is recommended to know about the causes of the problem.

• Swollen lymph Nodes

Lymph nodes work as a protective sheet in case of your illness as they trap germs to stop the spreading of infection.  When due to infection, they become swollen and may lead to pain in your throat. Your lymph nodes may swell due to a tooth infection, an ear infection, a cold, and the flu. Antibiotics and antiviral medicines are available to treat swollen nodes due to an infection.

• Laryngitis

Including overuse of the vocal cords, irritation, and infection. When inflammation of the larynx occurs, it leads to laryngitis. In this condition, the larynx becomes swollen and irritated which results in voice changes. Overuse of vocal cords, infection, and irritation are the leading causes of laryngitis.

• Injury

Pain on the right or left side of the throat may occur whenever you hurt yourself by consuming hot food or sharp food. You may need to visit the doctor immediately in case of difficulty in breathing swallowing or bleeding.

• A tooth abscess or infection

When a bacterial infection occurs, it may lead to tooth abscess which is actually an accumulation of pus. The accumulation of the pus originates at the tip of the tooth’s root. The excruciating pain that radiates to the ear and the jawbone on the side of the face. The lymph nodes present near the throat and the neck can also result in soreness and inflammation. 

• Postnasal Drip 

This type of condition occurs when a person is facing a cold or the flu along with congestion of the nose. There may be chances that mucus or fluid may drip back into the throat, which is known as a post-nasal drip. As a result, one side of the throat may become irritated and lead to soreness and pain on one side of the throat. 

• Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia

Sometimes, the left side of throat hurts due to the nerve pain known as glossopharyngeal neuralgia which mostly hurts after swallowing. You can face this condition on the back of the tongue, in the jaw, one side in the ears, and the tonsils. Rarely, this condition occurs but when it occurs may lead to sudden or severe pain. Mostly, swallowing triggers the pain related to glossopharyngeal neuralgia.

Additional Causes of Sore Throat

There may be other causes related to sore throat.

• Peritonsillar abscess

• Trigeminal neuralgia

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD

• Noncancerous or cancerous tumors

How to Find Relief?

Whenever the left side of the throat hurts in a smaller amount and is in its initial stage, you can try some home remedies to get relief. Some necessary steps and medications are as follows:

• The first and most important thing is to rest, try not to speak as it can put pressure on your throat.

• Try to get plenty of sleep, almost 8 hours per day.

• Try to take something soft which soothes your throat like a throat lozenge, a piece of hard candy, and or a Popsicle.

• Never dehydrate yourself, always drink plenty of water at regular intervals. Moreover, add some lemon juice and honey.

• The most important step is to gargle by adding 1 teaspoon of salt per cup 

• Adding moisture to your environment, especially your bedroom when you’re sleeping, helps dry throats.

• Try to prevent your throat from drying by running a humidifier in the room and you can also use it while sleeping.

• Stuff that may cause irritation on the throat like spicy food, second-hand smoke, and very hot liquids should be avoided. 

• In medications, OTC drugs are available like ibuprofen naproxen, and acetaminophen.

• Corticosteroids like betamethasone, prednisone, and dexamethasone

• Antibiotics such as amoxicillin

• Lozenges and cough syrups 

Note: It is always advisable to never self-medicate, instead have consultation with a doctor.

When to Seek Medical Treatment?

It Is true that sometimes symptoms related to sore throat may appear for a short interval and after that move towards recovery. But sometimes it could be an indication of something serious and that is the time to talk to the doctor. Lancaster pain management advises patients to visit a doctor if they don't recover soon, almost in one week. The following symptoms may need to be visited by a doctor.

• Presence of blood in saliva and phlegm

• Lack of water in the body

• Difficulty swallowing and breathing 

• Rashes in throat

• Pain in joints

• Pus in the back of your throat

• A rash

• Hoarseness for longer than two weeks

• Fever

Pain and Spine Clinic always welcomes patients to get well soon. So never be late to book an appointment.