Do you experience hand pain that won’t go away? It may be because you now work from home. One of the most noticeable effects of the pandemic is the change in many people’s work styles and work location. Many people have now gone fully remote, choosing to work from home rather than from a physical office. While there are many benefits of working from home, such as flexibility, less stress and cost of commuting, and in most cases, a better work-life balance, there are also possible risks. If you are looking for more information about hand pain treatment in New York City, we can help you.
One of such risks is the adverse physical impact work might have on your body. This is often due to the poor work posture adopted in the absence of a typical work desk and the tendency to work for long hours due to distractions mid-work day.
Hand pain is a typical example of the physical effects that working from home can have on your body. Hand pain can be felt anywhere from the tips of your fingers through your entire forearm. Hand pain is also often associated with a tingling or numbing sensation in your hand.
Common Causes Of Hand Pain Working From Home
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is one of the most common causes of hand pain, and it is due to a nerve disorder. The median nerve passes through a structure of bones and connective tissue at the palm side of your wrist, called the carpal tunnel. The median nerve is responsible for controlling sensations and muscle impulses in your thumb and your first three fingers.
Carpal tunnel syndrome can cause a tingling or numbness in your hands or arms, particularly in your thumb, index finger, and middle finger. The pain is also generally worse at night. CTS is often caused by excessive use of the keyboard and computer use, frequent use of vibrating tools, playing a musical instrument, or consistent manual labor.
Repetitive Strain Injury
If you have a habit of putting yourself in awkward positions, particularly involving your upper arm while you work at home, you may have caused this injury. Symptoms typically include numbness, tenderness, cramping, and stiffness.
Other causes of hand pain are:
- Trigger Finger
- De Quervain’s Tendinopathy
- Osteoarthritis
- Dupuytren’s Contracture
- Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome
How To Get Rid Of Hand Pain
Fortunately, there are different remedies to hand pain that can relieve your symptoms and help you regain full use of your hands. These include:
Exercising your Hands
One way you can relieve your symptoms is by engaging in safe hand exercises and moving your wrists to ease pain and stiffness. Before engaging in these exercises, it is advised that you consult the services of an occupational therapist or certified hand therapist, who will choose the safest exercises for you.
Wearing A Splint
Splints are particularly effective in managing carpal tunnel syndrome. They help keep your wrists in a straight position and take pressure off your median nerve. Different types of splints can be worn while working or resting. An occupational therapist or certified hand therapist will help you decide if you need a splint and they will custom make the right one for you.
Ice And Heat Therapy
Ice therapy can help reduce swelling and pain in your hands. You can get this relief by using flexible gel pads or a bag of frozen corn or peas on your hands. Be careful not to apply ice directly to your skin as it may burn. You can wrap the pack in a soft towel before use. You can also choose to apply heat if you experience stiffness and pain. You can benefit from heat therapy by taking a warm shower, applying microwaved heat packs, or using a hot water bottle.
Medication
Some medications are effective at reducing pain and inflammation. They include paracetamol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen. You can get many of them as over-the-counter medication; however, you should consult with your doctor before using any drug.
Seeing an Occupational Therapist/Certified Hand Therapist
Occupational therapists/certified hand therapists are experts in the treatment of all forms of wrist and hand pain. They are in the best position to determine the form of treatment that is best for you. If you experience persistent hand pain, it may be time to book at Cynergy Physical Therapy and let our experts help you.
Are you in need of a therapist for your hand pain? At Cynergy Physical Therapy, we have Occupational Hand Therapists and Certified Hand Therapists (CHTs) who specialize in the treatment of the upper extremities, including fingers, hands, wrists, elbows, and shoulders.
Book an appointment and let our experts help you!