Expert Q&A for How to Fix Neck Pain

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Question

What's the biggest cause of neck pain?

Jarod Carter, DPT, CMT
Physical Therapist
Jarod Carter is a Physical Therapist, Consultant, and the Owner of Carter Physiotherapy, a manual physical therapy clinic in Austin, Texas focused on manual therapy as well as telehealth services to resolve pain and injuries. Dr. Carter has over 15 years of professional physical therapy experience. He received a DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy) and an MTC (Manual Therapy Certification) from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. Dr. Carter also holds a BS in Kinesiology from the University of Texas at Austin.

Jarod Carter, DPT, CMT

Physical Therapist

Expert Answer

There are very few neck patients in my practice who, unless they've been in a car accident, have actually become neck patients without having poor posture. Posture is that correlated to neck pain and upper back pain. It's very rare that someone comes in with bad neck and upper back pain without also having pretty poor posture. That's why it's so important to make sure you're sitting with good posture at your desk.

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Question

When is neck pain considered chronic?

Jarod Carter, DPT, CMT
Physical Therapist
Jarod Carter is a Physical Therapist, Consultant, and the Owner of Carter Physiotherapy, a manual physical therapy clinic in Austin, Texas focused on manual therapy as well as telehealth services to resolve pain and injuries. Dr. Carter has over 15 years of professional physical therapy experience. He received a DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy) and an MTC (Manual Therapy Certification) from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. Dr. Carter also holds a BS in Kinesiology from the University of Texas at Austin.

Jarod Carter, DPT, CMT

Physical Therapist

Expert Answer

Chronic pain is usually defined as pain that lasts longer than three months.

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Can CBT treat neck pain?

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Expert Answer

Since CBT—cognitive behavioral therapy—can help you talk about, process, and mentally cope with your neck pain so you feel stronger and more capable, it's definitely a great part of your treatment plan. Consult your doctor about additional forms of care that can complement CBT.

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Question

When I woke up I was fine, but when I was at school my neck started to hurt? Was this because of how I slept?

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Expert Answer

It's possible that your sleeping position might have contributed to your neck pain, but you'll usually wake up with an uncomfortable sensation and tension right when you wake up. Since you experienced a stiff or sore neck during your school day, pay attention to your posture—make sure to sit up straight, keep your core strong, and raise your head while your teacher speaks. Also avoid hunching over when you work on tasks like writing notes. In order to avoid starting your morning with a stiff neck, try to sleep on your back and consider both a mattress and a pillow—like one that's long and thin or made of memory foam—that will support your spinal alignment.

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