Work From Home is ‘pain in the neck,’ say doctors

Doctors said improper postures and change in lifestyle are the major causes for such spine related problems. The conveniences aside, doctors consider ‘work from home’ as unhealthy, as it has led to serious problems that is associated with prolonged sitting like neck and back pain.

 Dr G Balamurali, head of the department of spine surgery at Kauvery Hospital, said that IT organisations all over the world have spent a lot in order to make their employees comfortable and healthy in the work environment by providing ergonomic chairs, tables and curved monitors. However, with the work from home arrangement, these employees are working from home sitting on couches and beds.

 “After sometime, they tend to hunch or lie in bed while working, and the natural restraints like ligaments that avoids abnormal movement of spine tend to overexert and the bio-mechanics of the spine would be severely compromised – and eventually lose their functionality,” he said.

 This has led to serious problems like acute neck and back pain which are resistant to routine treatments. “We are seeing a lot of these patients with similar complaints nowadays,” said Dr Balamurali, adding how the poor and irregular posture starts taking a toll on the spine. The joints in the spine becomes weak and unstable, leading to accelerated degeneration of the inter-vertebral disc. Once the disc degeneration sets in, there is no coming back.

 The symptoms include back pain, buttock pain, difficulty in getting out of bed or chair and sitting on the floor, and in severe cases pain radiating through the arms or legs. Health experts said that although short bursts of pain that may last for up to five days is nonthreatening, unsettling pain must be addressed immediately to avoid permanent damage to the spine.

 Dr Nalli Yuvaraj, head of spine surgery at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital said there has been an increase in cases of problems in the lumbar region of the spine, especially among youngsters as they fail to maintain proper posture while working.

 “Despite the unlock, work from home has become a comfortable way of working. But it takes a toll on the spine. It takes few months to recover from it,” said Dr Nalli Yuvaraj.

 Doctors blame lifestyle changes – increased screen time and improper workplace set up at home – for increase in spine related issues.