Tips for Managing Chronic Pain at Work
For most people, work presents challenges of its own on a daily basis. Chronic pain adds a whole new dimension to those challenges. As one of the top area pain clinic Hendersonville (and other Asheville area locations) specialists, we have many therapies, treatments and resources that can help address this. Read on to learn several expert tips to managing chronic pain at work.
Work-Related Pain Triggers
It is common to see chronic pain conditions aggravated while at work and in the evenings following the workday. This is mostly due to the long, repetitive hours of consistently poor body mechanics. Unfortunately, many office spaces are created to optimize space within the building rather than offer physical support to the employees. Some of the most common work-related pain triggers these challenges lead to include the following:
Eye strain (too much screen time)
Long periods of sitting or standing
Poor posture at desk
Non-ergonomic keyboard causing repetitive strain on wrists
Lack of lower back support in office chair
Standing vs. Sitting
One of the top ways to combat chronic pain triggers at work is by eliminating long periods of sitting. Not only is a sedentary lifestyle hard on chronic pain but it is also a precursor to heart disease, obesity and strokes. Because of this, CPC’s pain doctors near Hendersonville (additional locations in the surrounding Ashville area as well) stress the importance of alternating between sitting and standing at work.
One way to do this is by upgrading your desk to a hybrid sit-stand model. Over the past 5 years, this technology has become much more accessible to employees everywhere. When comparing different brands and features, be sure to consider your standing height and ideal sitting position. Make sure the desk you choose allows you to sit and stand comfortably with proper body mechanics at either position. You may also want to consider an anti-fatigue floor mat to further decrease your pain levels when standing.
Movement Breaks
Not only is movement helpful in reducing chronic pain in the workplace, but it also helps manage stress. It’s important to remember that pain is not purely a physical sensation. Pain does not exist in a social vacuum. In fact, non-physiological factors such as personality, cognitions, beliefs, socio-cultural variables, learning, stress and emotional reactivity all contribute significantly to a patient’s perception of pain.
If you struggle with incorporating movement into your workday, here are some simple tips to get you started:
Take a walk around your office building during your lunch break – outside, if possible
Park farther away from your workplace entrance
Use the stairs instead of the elevator
If you work from home, consider investing in an under desk treadmill
Alternate between a standard, supportive office chair and a balance ball to allow periods of movement even while sitting
Body Mechanics
Proper body mechanics are a topic chronic pain specialists speak about often because they impact every type of profession and lifestyle. Body mechanics are what pain care specialists call the set of movements used to perform daily tasks. The use of proper body mechanics can help manage chronic pain as well as prevent further injury.
The best way to ensure you are using proper body mechanics is to work together with a chronic pain specialist. Exercises can be designed and customized to your specific set of needs. For example, members of your care team can develop a set of stretching exercises that uniquely targets your chronic pain symptoms along with your work environment challenges.
Pain Clinic Hendersonville
At Comprehensive Pain Consultants of the Carolinas, we aim to improve your quality of life by listening to you, creating custom treatment plans, and educating you as we learn more about your conditions. We’re invested in your sustained relief from pain.Our treatment plans are minimally invasive and conservative.We also provide, as a part of our team, psychologists who offer counseling and education to assist you in reaching your goal for an optimal life! Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you better manage pain at work and beyond