Lately, you have felt tingling, pain and numbness in your wrist or hand, which are symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. You can manage the discomfort enough to work, but could your occupation be the reason that you experience aches and pain?
U.S. News & World Report explains the link between a person’s role at work and CTS. Determine if you may need to file a workers’ compensation claim with your employer.
Occupational risk factors
You may not feel like your job is the most physically taxing, but that does not mean you are not susceptible to certain health conditions. Occupational risk factors for CTS include responsibilities that require maneuvering the hands or wrists in difficult positions for long periods, repetitive or vigorous tasks or subjecting the body to vibration. Some industries with the most instances of the syndrome include animal processing and slaughtering, textile/fabric/coating/finishing mills and apparel manufacturing. Women usually experience CTS more commonly than men.
Potentially work-related
A commonly blamed work duty such as typing may not trigger CTS in a person. Rather, typing could put enough stress on the hands and wrists that the employee realizes the existence of CTS. The person may have smaller wrists that do not provide proper space for your nerves, leading to excess pressure and syndrome symptoms. Autoimmune disorders and wrist fractures may also cause CTS. That said, do not rule out the possibility that your occupation caused your aches and pains.
Preventing and treating
Employers and employees must take steps to reduce and prevent CTS. That means improving and implementing ergonomics at work stations, taking regular breaks and changing to machinery that requires less force.
You deserve to work free of pain and discomfort. Raising the issue with your employer and changing your workplace could help you experience relief.