Computer Ergonomics: Work Pain Free

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Question From Letitia: After years of heavy computer usage, I developed hand, wrist, and arm pain. Despite quitting my job, seeking various forms of therapy and minimizing time on the computer, I still experience pain three years later. Is there hope for me to recover, or is it too late?

Dear Letitia,

First of all, every musculoskeletal problem can be cured. The problem is, once hand-wrist-arm [tag]pain from computer work[/tag] is an advanced condition, such as yours obviously is, it is hard to fix, there are several possible components of the cure that works for you, and it takes a long time. You must be patient and continue with the treatment path even though there is little improvement in the beginning.

You mentioned you have tried various forms of therapy. A common problem is someone in your condition may try physical therapy for a while, then a chiropractor, then an MD for medication and rest, then an acupuncturist, etc. The problem here is your condition probably has several components, and you need to see several different practitioners at the same time. They must be in contact with each other and all be contributing to your cure. It is worth it because as you have discovered, it affects your entire life.

Treatment is difficult, and prevention is simple. That prevention is what the work pain free program is about. You will need to learn the lessons of work pain free because you mentioned that you still do some computer work, so you must stop the stress from that activity in order to get better.

There are several issues that you must explore.

1. You need to find health care providers that are secure enough and have relationships with other health care providers to refer you to if they cannot cure you.
2. Despite pain location, is the problem caused by hand, wrist, arm or neck dysfunction?
3. Other conditions to explore as possible contributory causes of the condition are: Pinched nerve in Neck, Brachial Plexus, Thoracic Outlet, Elbow, or Wrist; Muscular imbalance and spasm in forearm, Muscular trigger Point, Chronic Dehydration from not drinking enough water, True Carpel Tunnel, A bony distortion (Subluxation) in the hand, wrist or elbow, Neck Disc Pathology, TMJ Dysfunction,
4. Have you truly customized your computer workstation and technique to eliminate physical stress? (these are the lessons of “Work Pain Free”)
5. You will need to be evaluated for imbalances in your posture due to muscular strength imbalances. These will need to be corrected through a customized stretching and strengthening Rehabilitative exercise program.

Please feel free to contact me with what city you are in. I will help you find you a quality health care referral to help solve your problem.

Good luck.

Regards,

Dr. Barry Carlin

When I work on the computer, I usually have a constant hot sensation in my shoulders and lower neck. It only happens when I work on the computer. It is coming faster and feels stronger. Is this serious and how can I stop it?

Dear Rani,

Your report of a constant [tag]hot sensation in the shoulders and lower neck[/tag] is most likely from your monitor or document position causing a forward position of the head. Even a subtle forward position will cause the muscles where you feel discomfort to constantly contract to hold up your head (which can weigh 8-15 pounds. The constant contraction causes the hot sensation, or it can cause tension, ache, your head feeling heavy and pain

The solution is covered in the full version of Work Pain Free. What you must do is alter the monitor and/or document position so when looking at them your head is relaxed above your body without having to think about it.

The monitor should be directly in front of you. The top of a standard monitor screen or the upper third of an oversized screen should be just below your eyes, or in the middle of the bridge of your nose.

A test to fine tune the position to be exactly correct for you is after you set the correct monitor height, have a fried hold a paper in front of the monitor. Have them slowly raise it until it feels too high. Then have them lower it until it feels too low. Go up and down until you feel the exact most comfortable position for you. That is the exact best monitor height for you. Adjust it to that height. For most people it will be at the bridge of your nose as was described earlier in this article.

Place any papers you must look at on a document holder which will hold them up close to the monitor.