Your Boss Affects Your Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

There's been so much new research showing a connection between job conditions and carpal tunnel syndrome that these psychosocial risk factors have officially been entered into scientific evidence. The new findings have been summarized in Pathology and Intervention in Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, 2nd Edition. The following information comes from the chapter Repetitive Stress Pathology: Soft Tissue by Nancy N. Byl, Mary F. Barbe, and Jane Fedorzyck.

Psychosocial includes mental, social, spiritual and emotional issues. Studies show repetitive stress injuries (RSIs) can be exacerbated by such things as high work demands, contentious supervisors, low pay and low job security. While you can blame those on your employer, there's also a set of individual predisposing risk factors you’re responsible for: sedentary lifestyle, lack of coping skills and even personality. (Type As are very common for RSIs.)

High levels of stress can also be found in the home, such as caring for the elderly or the psychological challenges of children. So does abnormal sleep patterns and digestive issues. You may have little control over your environment at work, but you have much more control at home.

Causation is at the heart of any claim for work-related injury and these new findings add much to that conversation when it comes to cumulative traumas. But instead of blaming your employer, when it comes to evaluating what's causing your carpal tunnel syndrome, taking a close look at your own life is also in order.

Social support has also been shown as a close corollary to increased pain with carpal tunnel syndrome. But it's difficult to get loved ones on board when they have a hard time understanding your condition. Ask your doctor for communication tools. If your doctor doesn’t have any, suggest he read Pathology and Intervention in Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, 2nd Edition.

@JillGambaro is the author of The Truth About Carpal Tunnel Syndrome . She has lived with multiple repetitive strain injuries known as a “double crush” for over 15 years. A former board member of the Los Angeles Repetitive Strain Injury Support Group and the Cumulative Trauma Disorders Resource Network, Jill advocates for prevention, patient engagement and healthy playing for musicians through her Blog, Facebook and Twitter @IckyFingersMovi. Look for her upcoming documentary Icky Fingers.