Common Work-From-Home Injuries and How They are Treated

Donita Stacker, Director of Operations, Apricus, an Enlyte company

In today’s remote and hybrid work environments, accidents are on the rise. The most common injuries plaguing employees are in the back, shoulders, hands and wrists. These injuries often result from overuse and improper workstation setup. Spending long hours seated at a desk in front of a screen, and poor ergonomics can lead to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)—injuries that affect muscles, nerves, ligaments, joints and cartilage. These issues may start as minor discomforts but can worsen over time due to repeated trauma.

Common work-from-home injuries include:

Tendinitis
Tendinitis is often identified by inflammation of the tendon, resulting in point tenderness and swelling. It frequently affects areas such as the shoulders, elbows, wrists and heels. The primary causes are injury, overuse or arthritis. Typical symptoms include pain, tenderness and swelling. Treatment primarily involves rest and the use of medications aimed at alleviating pain and reducing inflammation.

Trigger Finger
Trigger finger is marked by a finger or thumb getting stuck in a bent position and then snapping back into place. It typically results from a narrowing of the sheath around the affected tendon, and it’s more prevalent in women and individuals with diabetes. Common symptoms include pain, stiffness at the base of the thumb and the finger clicking or locking. Treatment options include rest, splinting, stretching exercises, medication and in some cases, surgical intervention.

Epicondylitis
Epicondylitis is a condition defined by pain at the point where the tendons of the forearm muscles connect to the outer part of the elbow, sometimes radiating into the forearm and wrist. This discomfort often results from repetitive contractions of the forearm muscles used for hand and wrist movement. It primarily affects adults aged 30 to 50, particularly those who smoke. Common symptoms include radiating pain from the outer elbow, along with forearm weakness. Treatment typically involves rest and anti-inflammatory medications, and in many cases, it improves naturally over a span of six months to two years.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome is often identified by swelling that compresses the median nerve, typically due to pressure on this nerve. It can be triggered by factors such as swelling of the synovium, hormonal disorders, diabetes, thyroid disorders, menopause, or pregnancy. Common symptoms include tingling or numbness in the thumb, index, middle or ring fingers (excluding the little finger), as well as a sensation of hand weakness. Treatment options include taking regular breaks to rest the hands, using cold packs, wearing a splint, medications and surgical procedures when necessary.

Low Back Pain
Low back pain is characterized by discomfort in the lower back area, often diagnosed as lumbar sprains or strains. Surprisingly, in about 90% of cases, the exact cause remains unidentified. This pain can result from irritation of large nerve roots extending to the legs and arms, inflammation of smaller nerves in the spinal discs, or strain on the large back muscles supporting the spine. Injuries to bones, ligaments, or joints throughout the spine can also contribute. Symptoms vary from dull ache to sharp, stabbing or shooting sensations. Treatment typically involves rest, stretching, manual manipulation, anti-inflammatory medications, and physical therapy.

When these problems arise, timely treatment and recovery services are essential to prevent minor discomforts from becoming severe health issues. Apricus works to coordinate the most effective injury-recovery services for those who have work-related injuries. Enlyte also offers ergonomic services aimed at minimizing risk factors in both preventive and case-specific scenarios. Visit our website to learn more about our workplace productivity services. 

About the author

Donita Stacker has over 16 years of experience in the workers’ comp industry. In her current role as Manager of Strategic Implementations and Complex Care, she is responsible for delivering exceptional customer experiences during various implementation stages. As an operational leader, Donita collaborates with technical and operational teams to establish conversion strategies, capacity planning and outcome monitoring to ensure an overall successful program.

Donita is also a regular contributor to our Specialty Solutions Spotlight where this article originally appeared. To ask and find the answers to more work comp specialty questions visit our website and subscribe to our monthly series. 

www.apricusinc.com

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