Work-Related Wrist Pain

RSI and carpal tunnel treatment Sydney

Most of us spend a large proportion of our waking hours at work, and so it’s no surprise that work can have a significant impact on our health. Unfortunately, for some people, work-related activities can lead to injuries and pain.

There are a few different types of wrist pain that could result from activity on the job. In some occupations, it’s certainly possible to suffer from an injury related to a fall or another type of accident, and this could cause damage to the wrist or hand. However, it’s also very common for people to suffer from chronic wrist pain related to repetitive work activities.

People in many occupations may suffer from work-related wrist pain. Both people who work in offices and people whose jobs involve manual labor can experience chronic wrist issues related to their work. What causes this? More importantly, what can you do to solve the problem and feel better?

What are the most common types of work-related wrist pain?

Chronic wrist pain related to work generally falls under the category of a repetitive strain injury, or RSI. This is an injury that results from performing the same action too many times in a row. The human body is not really designed to continually perform the same action over and over. When you perform any physical action, it will put at least a small amount of stress on the body. When you do the action just once, the body can handle it. However, if you perform the same action over and over, the small stresses start to add up, leading to deterioration of certain tissues of the body.

Two very common types of RSIs are carpal tunnel syndrome and tendinitis.

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve, which is one of the main nerves of the hand, becomes entrapped in a tunnel of connective tissue at the wrist. This connective tissue structure itself is known as the carpal tunnel. Inflammation of the connective tissue structures can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome, which is the condition related to nerve compression that results from pressure on the median nerve within the carpal tunnel. 

For people who work in office jobs, spending long hours typing on a keyboard can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome. Many people hold their wrists in a slightly flexed position (palms bent towards the forearms) while they’re typing, and this position increases the pressure in the carpal tunnel. When someone stays in this position for many hours, this pressure can start to add up, leading to inflammation of the tissues of the carpal tunnel. Conversely, some people hold the wrists in a slightly extended position (backs of the hands bent upwards towards the backs of the arms) while typing, and this can also lead to an increase in pressure in the carpal tunnel.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is considered an RSI, because it results from performing repetitive activities.

Tendinitis

Tendinitis is inflammation of one or more tendons. These are the connective tissue structures that connect muscles to bones. When the same muscle is used repeatedly, then the tendons of that muscle can become strained. This is also a form of RSI.

People whose jobs involve manual labor, such as carpenters, construction and maintenance workers, and even hairdressers, can suffer from tendinitis related to performing the same physical action many times. Those who work in office jobs and spend a lot of time typing are also at risk of tendinitis.

How can you reduce the risk of work-related wrist injuries?

When it comes to performing RSI, it helps to pay careful attention to wrist position while performing work-related activities. For example, while typing, try to keep the wrists in as neutral a position as possible, without flexion or extension. Ergonomic adjustments, such as different keyboards and changing the heights of chairs and desks, can help. Remember that even a very small misalignment of the wrist can add up over many hours, so pay very close attention when setting up your workspace. 

If you find that you’re starting to experience any soreness in your wrists by the end of the workday, try to address the issue as soon as possible. In general, companies want to do everything possible to prevent workplace injuries, including RSIs like carpal tunnel and tendinitis. If you’re having any issues at all, bring it up with your supervisor as soon as possible, so that you can get some help with fixing the problem before it becomes a major issue.

How can you treat work-related wrist injuries?

If you already have symptoms of an RSI related to your work activities, then there are some treatments that may help. In general, a period of rest is very helpful if symptoms have become severe. You may need to perform different duties or take a period of time off work in order to allow your injuries time to heal.

Physical therapy can help to strengthen certain muscles in order to stabliise the joint, and to retrain the body to use healthier patterns of movement. Some people may benefit from taking anti-inflammatory medications for a period of time; while this is often not recommended for the long term, it may be helpful while the injury is healing. In some cases, steroid injections near the injured area may help to control inflammation.

Wrist braces or splints may be helpful for many people with carpal tunnel syndrome or tendinitis of the wrist. These are rigid supports that help to keep the wrist in a neutral position while typing or performing other work activities, and are generally worn during the workday. Particularly for people with carpal tunnel syndrome, wearing them while sleeping can actually also be helpful. This is because it’s extremely common to sleep with the wrists in a strongly flexed position, and you can’t control your position while you’re sleeping. Wearing your wrist braces while you sleep can help to prevent your median nerve from being compressed overnight.

Surgery for work-related wrist pain

In general, it’s recommended to try all of the non-surgical treatments first, to see if they are effective in relieving the pain. However, if your condition doesn’t get better, then a surgical procedure may be considered.

For people with carpal tunnel syndrome, a surgical treatment to decompress the median nerve by opening up space in the carpal tunnel may be helpful. During this procedure, certain connective tissue structures on top of the median nerve are cut, in order to open up more space and decompress the nerve. This procedure isn’t right for everyone, but can be helpful for some patients.

For those with tendinitis, surgery may involve removing damaged tissue from around the tendon, or cutting the tendon sheath in order to release pressure on the tendon.

RSI and carpal tunnel treatment Sydney

If you’re suffering from an RSI such as carpal tunnel syndrome or tendinitis, and more conservative ways of treating it have not been effective, then you might want to consider a surgical procedure to help relieve your pain and restore your hand’s function. These procedures are not right for everyone, but they can be helpful for some people.

It’s important that any surgery on your wrist or hand be performed by an expert. This area of the body is extremely complex, and good surgical technique is crucial in order to get good results and avoid damaging important structures. Dr. Sungaran is a specialised hand surgeon with many years of training and experience in performing procedures on the hand and wrist. As a recognised expert in the field, he serves patients from around the greater Sydney area and even beyond. Please contact our office if you’d like to schedule an appointment.