Desk work doesn’t seem like the most strenuous form of work in the world. When you’re sitting down at a desk for 6 to 8 hours a day, and you’ve got a nice chair to keep you upright, it can feel strange to admit that you’re feeling uncomfortable or in pain.
But the fact remains: you’re in pain right now! And if we’re being honest, desk work can be quite detrimental to the body. When you’re sitting at a desk for that period of time, day in and day out, all sorts of muscles, tendons, joints, and bones can start to wear down.
And if it gets to the point where you feel like you can’t work anymore, you might need to do a little investigating about the way you work and what’s going on. So, here’s what to do next.
Change Your Working Set Up
The monitor may be too close, or too far away. You may not be sitting up right, or have no support around your lower back.
You may not have enough space for your legs under the desk. The desk itself may not even be at the right height for your arm length.
These are all things to double check and change.
See a Doctor
If the pain is repetitive, and is genuinely impacting how well you can do your work, it’s time to see a doctor. You need to be sure nothing serious is causing the pain, or that there’s nothing else you should be doing to address it.
Make some time to book an appointment, explain your symptoms, and even take along a little diary of when and where you notice the pain flaring up.
And be sure to explain to your doctor that you’re a desk worker, as there are many desk work related health complaints they may want to go over with you.
Look into Benefits
If you’re unable to work at a desk due to something like carpal tunnel, you’re also going to be unable to use your hands for other types of work.
It doesn’t matter what environment you’re working in, after all. If you’ll be required to have strong hands with a good grip, and dropping things could break expensive equipment or get someone hurt, you’re unlikely to be fit for the job.
That’s why simply changing jobs until the pain dies down isn’t always a suitable option either. You may need to investigate supplemental forms of income, such as disability benefits instead.
Yes, carpal tunnel can be considered a disability if it causes so much pain and/or weakness that you cannot stay in a role for longer than a couple of weeks. But be sure to work with a disability expert over this, as they’ll be able to help you fill out your application in the right way.
When desk work starts to hurt, tackle the pain by changing your working set up, seeing a doctor ASAP, and checking out your benefits.
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