Job-related chronic pain can be debilitating and can lead to permanent damage being done to your body. Some jobs are more likely to lead to the kinds of injuries and motions that cause chronic pain than others. If you are suffering from long-term discomfort, don’t suffer in silence. Speak to your healthcare provider to see if there are remedies available. Additionally, utilize safety equipment and products that are designed to reduce pain. And finally, take precautions at work to avoid triggering motions or repetitive movements that cause flare-ups. Hopefully, you can find some remedies to help combat pain so that you can continue enjoying your job.
Job-Related Chronic Pain: How to Manage It
Jobs That Are Prone to Causing Pain
Many industries can lead to job-related chronic pain. However, some are more prone to it than others. For example, the back-bending and lifting required for jobs like landscaping, moving companies, construction, and even the food industry can quickly lead to chronic spinal pain. Truck driving and other predominantly sitting jobs can lead to sciatica. And office jobs involving a lot of typing might lead to repetitive motion injuries like carpel tunnel.
Speak Up
If you are experiencing job-related chronic pain, reach out and speak with a healthcare provider. Even if the pain isn’t acute or severe, ignoring it can make it worse as you age. Instead, confront it head-on as soon as you start noticing the injury. Your healthcare provider might be able to recommend some stretches, physical therapy, or medications to help manage the discomfort.
Utilize Equipment
It’s also important to utilize all safety precautions and equipment when battling job-related chronic pain. If your job involves lifting heavy objects, make sure that you are using the correct
lifting form so that you don’t risk spinal injuries. If there are protective aids available at work, like lifting belts or dolly carts, make use of them as much as possible.
Take Precautions
Finally,
take precautions to avoid triggering motions if you suffer from job-related chronic pain. For repetitive injury issues, consider taking short but frequent breaks, or purchasing aids that can help you avoid your body being in the same position over and over. Avoid heavy lifting if you are experiencing acute pain. Speak with your boss if necessary to ensure that you don’t aggravate the injury further and harm your body irreparably.
Job-related chronic pain can be distracting and can eventually lead to debilitating injury. Therefore, it’s important to address it early on so that you can take steps to remedy the situation. Speak to your medical provider about possible stretches or exercises that can help mitigate your discomfort. Or work on building up muscles around the injured area to alleviate stress on the injury. Utilize proper equipment designed to reduce pain, and take precautions to avoid triggering motions. While some jobs, like yard work or nursing, are prone to injury, anybody can suffer from job-related pain. Make sure that you take steps now so that you don’t have to leave a job you love later because of pain.
