When you work from home, you can stay comfy in sweats all day, at least on your lower half. And, it’s easier to get lunch from your fridge than to pack or order lunch for a day at the office. Working from home can also make your life easier if you have a chronic condition.
However, working from home has one big, common drawback — you might find that your frequency and intensity of neck pain increases after you stop going into the office and start telecommuting.
At Total Spine Institute, Dr. Andrew Fox, Dr. Ryan Mattie, and our team of pain management and spinal surgery experts understand the complex structure of your spine, including the cervical spinal area in your neck, where neck pain problems often start.
We provide effective care and treatment for patients with neck pain from our Total Spine Institute locations in Sherman Oaks and Calabasas, California.
Here are some of the most common neck and spinal issues we see that are related to working from home.
How often would you say you end up working hunched over at the kitchen table or curled up on the couch with a laptop? If your spine isn’t correctly aligned, the weight of your head can put damaging pressure on vertebral bones, discs, and nerves of your cervical spine, resulting in neck aches and neck pain.
Are you squinting at a too-small or too-dark screen? Do you have the correct lighting in your at-home workspace? If you can’t see clearly, constant peering can cause you to adopt unhelpful postures that compromise your neck and cervical spine.
When you’re in the office, it may seem easier or more natural for you to take regular stretch breaks. Working at home, you might spend more time without moving or stretching, resulting in neck pain. Moving and stretching regularly helps your neck muscles stay loose and limber and keeps your spine flexible and decompressed.
If you’ve been noticing more, or worse, neck pain, shoulder pain, or headaches, and you’re working from home, talk to one of the providers at Total Spine Institute about the best way to change your setup and restore your spine.
You might need to adjust your work, equipment, or habits. If the structures and tissues in your cervical spine are damaged, Dr. Fox and Dr. Mattie can help you compose a treatment plan to comprehensively address the issue and keep your spine healthy for years to come.
To learn more about dealing with neck pain related to working from home, contact the team at Total Spine Institute today. Book your initial consultation appointment online or call now to schedule.
