Managing Pain While Working from Home

The pandemic forced many of us to work from home, and with that change, the number of hours we spend in front of our computer screens has skyrocketed. While working from a home office can have its advantages, like wearing comfy slippers and sweatpants to work and spending more time with the family, it can also take a physical toll on your body. Understanding the dangers of sitting at your desk all day and how to manage your pain can help you live a healthier, happier life.

Although sitting in front of your computer may not sound like a physically challenging activity, humans were designed to move about freely and exercise. Sitting still in one place and performing a task over and over can cause several physical ailments, and sometimes the lack of activity can aggravate previous injuries and conditions.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the injuries associated with working from home and the different ways you can manage the pain.

The Most Common Causes of Pain When Working From Home

When working from home, it’s important to create the most comfortable and efficient workspace that you can. Designing an ergonomic home office and being conscious of your posture while working can help you avoid some of the injuries and pains associated with office work.

Listed below are some of the most common pains and injuries homeworkers experience:

• Carpal tunnel syndrome. Repeated hand motions like typing can put pressure on the median nerve and cause tingling and weakness in your hands and arms.
• Cervical radiculitis. This is a condition that agitates the nerves that travel from the neck to the arms. It is most often caused when a nerve root becomes inflamed due to a herniated disc or bone spur.
• Activities like typing or staying seated in one place for too long can cause inflammation in the tendons of the forearms and around the shoulders and back of the neck.
• Joint pain. Pain in the wrists and elbows is a common result of too much time spent on the computer.
• Cubital tunnel syndrome. When someone bends their elbows or puts weight and pressure on them too often, they can stretch the ulnar nerve (the “funny bone”). Cubital tunnel syndrome causes tingling and numbness in the fingers and pain or weakness in the forearms and hands.
• Lower back pain. When you sit for too long in an unhealthy or uncomfortable position, you may start to experience pain or discomfort in your lower back.

Taking breaks, using good posture, and developing healthy work habits are essential to staying pain-free. However, if you are already injured, there are a variety of treatments available that can help. Chiropractic care, acupuncture, massage therapy, and physical therapy are a few of the treatments that can be useful if you’re experiencing pain because you’re working from home.

Contact Jersey Premier Pain Today to Treat Your Pain

At Jersey Premier Pain, we understand how difficult it can be to work from home when you’re in pain. While you can’t stop working, there are a variety of treatments available that can help lessen the pain or make it go away altogether.

Whether you have lower back pain or feel the effects of carpal tunnel syndrome, our experienced healthcare practitioners can help. Call Jersey Premier Pain today at 201-386-8800 to set up an appointment with one of our specialists and get onto the road to recovery.