I count my blessings that I am retired and can deal with pain in the privacy of my own home. My lower back and neck feel like they are on fire and the medication I take often makes me sleepy.
When I was in the workplace, I started taking ibuprofen the moment I sat down to work. My co-workers would gather in little groups at break time, and sit in the cafeteria drinking coffee. I had to keep walking so I wouldn’t get stiff, so people thought I was stuck-up because I didn’t hang out and gossip.
Thankfully I discovered some strategies to cope with pain, and make the workday a little less painful.
Here are five tools to manage arthritis pain in the workplace:
Ask for an Ergonomic Consultation
More and more workplaces are offering ergonomic consultations, so take advantage of them if you can.
Start with your chair. An ergonomic chair helps you maintain the correct posture while sitting, as it provides the right curve for your spine. This will help you manage and prevent lower back pain. Ergonomic chairs often have a headrest, which can ease your neck and shoulder pain.
You may have to type in different types of information and that can result in sore fingers and wrists which can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome. An ergonomic keyboard requires less pressure and you can also use an ergonomic mouse that takes the proper shape of the hand.
Ask about using a footrest. It takes the pressure off your back and less pressure means less pain. If a footrest is not available, buy your own. It is very inexpensive and doesn’t have to have all the bells and whistles.
Practice Good Posture
Your mother was right when she told you to sit up straight. As the workday goes on it’s easy to slouch and suddenly experience neck and back pain. When sitting, your back should be properly aligned, with your feet flat on the floor. Your table should also be of the proper height, and your computer monitor should be at your eye level to prevent eye strain, neck pains, and headaches. I use a footrest, so try both ways and see which one causes less arthritis pain.
Move Around
If you spend your entire shift sitting on your chair in front of your computer, you will feel aches in your back, knees, hands, and more.
Take all of your breaks and lunchtime and go for short walks. You can sit with the gossip crowd to eat your lunch but then get up and move around before returning to your desk.
Wear Comfortable Shoes
If your job requires you to wear a nice dress and shoes, wear flats with arch support. The interior has a soft lining, while the roomy toe box provides superior protection and comfort for your toes. Its synthetic sole has a heavy cushioning to give you the amount of shock absorption you would need when traversing unfavorable hard floors.
You can’t avoid stress completely, but you can keep stress levels at a minimum. Identify stressful areas and seek a solution. This can include talking to the involved person or shifting your focus from the things that you can’t control, to those you can.
Summary
It’s hard enough to have a successful workday, without having to deal with pain. Try these tips and see if your pain level improves. Don’t be afraid to take a mental health day from time to time.
How do you deal with pain in your workplace?
