If you’ve been having more aches and pains these past couple of years, you aren’t alone. For many of us, working at home means working at the kitchen table, on the couch or using a dresser in the bedroom as a standing desk. If you could easily afford to give yourself an ergonomic home office, you probably would have done so already. But if you’re experiencing numbness and tingling with pain in your fingers, hand and wrist, you could be developing carpal tunnel syndrome.
What Does Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Feel Like?
Carpal tunnel syndrome typically starts as mild wrist pain or tingling and numbness in the fingers—most often the thumb, index and middle fingers. It may appear after you’ve done repetitive hand tasks for hours, like typing or sewing. You could have tingling or numbness in your hands and fingers or feel a burning sensation.
As the condition worsens, the pain or numbness may travel up your arms, as the nerves become compressed. You may also wake up during the night from symptoms, losing valuable sleep.
Without treatment, carpal tunnel syndrome can lead to permanent nerve damage.
Workplace Adjustments You Can Make
The best way to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome is to adjust your workspace to be more ergonomic. You want your wrists to be in line with your elbows, which should be bent at about a 90-degree angle so that your wrists are not bent when you are typing. This may require you to lower or raise your working surface or change your chair height and use wrist rests with your keyboard.
If you have a laptop, you may need to buy an external keyboard. Adjustable height desks or monitor stands may help, too. Wearing wrist braces can help keep your wrists straight while you work. Make sure to take frequent breaks from typing or using your mouse to stretch your hands and arms.
Early Treatment Can Help
If adjusting your workstation isn’t helping your carpal tunnel symptoms, it’s time to see a doctor. Getting treatment from an orthopedic specialist will start with a physical assessment and imaging such as X-ray or an ultrasound. You may receive a nerve conduction test.
Treatment could include using wrist splints at night, an anti-inflammatory medicine, cortisone injections and sometimes physical therapy. If your symptoms still don’t improve, you may need outpatient surgery to prevent further nerve damage.
More to Read
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