Of several work-related injuries and illnesses, carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common problem. An individual suffering from this injury will not be able to deliver a certain level of productivity that they are used to delivering. According to studies, carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most common reasons employees miss work, compared to other medical conditions and illnesses. The pain associated with carpal tunnel may also lead to lower quality of work from the affected employee.
What Exactly Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a very common condition that causes tingling, numbness, and pain in one hand and forearm. When the median nerve, which is one of the main nerves in the hand, gets squeezed or constricts as it passes through the wrist, the problem comes up.
Carpal tunnel syndrome often worsens with time in the majority of individuals. A condition that doesn't get treated for a long time can cause permanent hand problems, such as a loss of feeling in the fingers and weakening of the hands.
Some of the common symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome are:
· Numbness, tingling, burning, and discomfort in the thumb, index, middle, and ring fingers. This often awakens individuals in the middle of the night.
· Periodic shock-like feelings radiate to the thumb, index, middle, and ring fingers.
· There may be pain or tingling that travels up the forearm toward the shoulder.
· Weakness and clumsiness in the hand may make delicate actions such as buttoning your garments more difficult.
· Dropping objects—owing to a lack of strength, numbness, or proprioception (awareness of where your hand is in space)
Can You Manage Carpal Tunnel Syndrome At Work?
Yes! It’s not impossible to work with carpal tunnel syndrome; it may be difficult though. But with the right kinds of tips, you can not only manage the associated pain but be able to treat the injury as well. The following are a few tips that will help you deal with CTS:
1. Choose Ergonomics
In the office, a lot of us spend most of our time sitting at a desk with our hands on either the keyboard or the mouse. The repetitive use of tools, such as keyboards, is one of the leading causes of CT syndrome. You can treat this problem by choosing tools and devices with ergonomic designs that keep your wrists, hands, and arms aligned naturally.
While using conventional tools, your hands and arms are forced into a position that is not only uncomfortable but also leads to the development of carpal tunnel syndrome.
2. Exercise your hand and wrist regularly.
When you have back pain or problems with your posture, it is recommended that you do stretches and exercises to ease up your muscles. Similarly, if you are struggling with carpal tunnel syndrome, exercising your hand, wrist, and arm can help alleviate the pain so you can work properly. CTS can happen even if you don't have it now. Stretching and exercising your wrist regularly can help you avoid getting it in the future.
Exercising your hand is straightforward. For a few minutes, slowly stretch your fingers, and then flex your wrist for the same length of time. You can also use a stretch ball as a tool to exercise your hands and fingers.
3. Take Breaks
We tend to get so invested in work that we often forget to take breaks to unwind our minds and bodies. Even just taking five-minute breaks now and then can seriously help with the pain associated with CTS. Taking a few minutes off of work allows your muscles to relax and reduces the chances of spasmodic injuries.
4. Be Mindful of Your Posture
Bad posture affects your health in several ways. Consistently using the keyboard with bad posture is one of the main causes of CTS. Slouching forces every part of your body to move into an unnatural position. Which in turn puts unnecessary pressure on your wrists and arms. So, to avoid CTS, try sitting straight at your desk and make sure that your wrist makes the right angle with the support of your desk. This will help keep your median nerve away from any pressure.
5. Take All The Extra Support You Need.
It can be hard to focus on the task at hand when you have consistent, annoying pain in your wrist. Some people suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome prefer wearing fingerless gloves to keep their hands warm, which also improves blood circulation. A wrist brace can also be used to provide your hand with a little bit of extra support. It helps alleviate the pressure on the median nerve, which prevents CTS from worsening.
If the above-discussed remedies don’t work for you, you can always opt for physical therapy or over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication. But, the best option is to get it checked by a doctor.
Final Word
Most of us are stuck at 9–5 boring office jobs. But, suffering from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can make such jobs downright unbearable. Dealing with CTS at work is difficult, but it can be treated by using the right kinds of remedies. But, mostly, our focus should be on our posture when trying to treat or prevent CTS. If you have bad posture, your chances of getting CTS are through the roof. Other than that, you can manage the pain related to CTS by opting for OTC anti-inflammatories and pain killers.
Carpal tunnel syndrome can also be prevented by using ergonomic office furniture and devices. If you are an employer, you should choose ergonomics in your office everywhere you can. By going ergonomic, you’ll improve the physical and mental health of your employees, which in turn will increase their productivity. Since work-related musculoskeletal injuries are the most common reason employees miss work, ergonomics can seriously reduce the amount of time off.
