Is Working from Home Making Your Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Worse?

When you have carpal tunnel syndrome, something has caused your median nerve, which runs through your hand, wrist, and carpal tunnel, to become compressed, irritated, or damaged. This condition affects about 3%-6% of the adult population.

The nerve affliction causes symptoms, such as pain, tingling, and numbness, in your fingers that can radiate throughout your wrist, hand, and forearm. 

What actually causes carpal tunnel syndrome?

Your carpal tunnel is a passageway located between bones in your wrist that provides a way for tendons, ligaments, and your median nerve to travel through your wrist and hand. These structures control sensation and movement in your hands and fingers.

Oftentimes, the soft tissue structures in your carpal tunnel can swell, become inflamed, or be injured, which affects your median nerve. 

Anything that causes issues with your carpal tunnel and your median nerve as a result can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome, but some issues that increase your risk include:

• Wrist sprains or fractures
• Rheumatoid arthritis 
• Thyroid or pituitary gland disorders
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Fluid retention during pregnancy
• Repetitive stress (typing, using scissors for sewing, peeling vegetables)
• Activities like swinging a hammer frequently or using power tools 

A family history of carpal tunnel syndrome can often lead to the condition as well, especially if it’s due to anatomical issues of the carpal tunnel.

Keyboard use and carpal tunnel syndrome

Repetitive hand and wrist motions can often increase your risk for carpal tunnel syndrome or worsen existing symptoms, which happens with heavy amounts of typing and keyboard use. 

If your work-from-home office setup doesn’t encourage proper hand and wrist posture, you could be making your carpal tunnel syndrome much worse, putting you at risk for nerve damage if you don’t correct it. 

We recommend following these practices when you’re keyboarding at home:

Pay attention to positioning

At your desk, make sure everything is set up correctly. Your monitor should be at eye level and about one arm’s length away from you. Ensure your chair and keyboard are at the correct height so you can keep your forearms level and your wrists relaxed.

Keep your back straight and supported, and always have both feet flat on the floor, never crossing your legs. 

Note your wrist posture

While typing, make sure your wrists are neutral. They shouldn’t point out towards your pinkies or in towards your thumbs. 

Another component of wrist posture is ensuring they’re never resting. You should always have floating wrists, and your arms shouldn’t touch the edge of your desk. This ensures that you don’t have to contort your hands to strike the necessary keys. 

Change positions often

When you take a break from typing, turn your hands over so your knuckles rest on your desk. Doing this while you talk on the phone, think of what to write next, or read an email can give your wrists a break from being in the same position for so long. 

Expert-level care for carpal tunnel syndrome

Taking the time to set up your home office properly can help with carpal tunnel symptoms, but you may still need some professional care to take pressure off your median nerve so it can fully heal.

Dr. Abrams offers several treatment options for carpal tunnel syndrome, including:

• Steroid injections
• Physical and occupational therapy 
• Wrist braces and splints
• Information to help prevent repetitive use injuries

If your carpal tunnel syndrome worsens and doesn’t respond to conservative treatments, Dr. Abrams may recommend minimally invasive carpal tunnel release surgery to relieve the pressure on your median nerve. 

To schedule an appointment for carpal tunnel syndrome treatment, call any of our office locations or use our online booking feature today.