How Your Work Environment Can Affect Your Body

Every day across San Antonio, employees in the city’s workforce show up to their jobs with varying degrees of discomfort and pain which can be traced back to their work environment. Much of this pain, both acute and chronic, can be directly linked to the activities (or lack thereof) which the individual’s job requires on a daily basis.

Instances of acute pain during work (that is, temporary pain) occur most frequently in job environments with heavy or dangerous conditions. Chronic pain in the workplace is considered a ‘silent disorder’ due to the way workers are often too apprehensive of consequences to make their employers aware of their discomfort. Whereas the origin of chronic pain can be largely untraceable, acute pain typically comes from a sudden and momentary source of discomfort. Both acute and chronic pain can hinder your capability to work effectively and focus on even the most menial daily tasks.

According to a recent study at Wayne State University, there is a distinct and detectable correlation between the interference of pain on everyday work obligations and the ‘emotional exhaustion’ that can accumulate at the end of a work day because of chronic pain. This show that your work environment can have a direct effect on your body’s ability to handle the more stressful aspects of your daily climate.

Work, Pain and Your Body

While some jobs are inherently more dangerous than others, even the least physically demanding occupations can provide ample chances for pain, injury and the onset of a number of problematic chronic medical conditions. Workplaces of all types afford daily opportunities for injuries which can result in acute pain and require treatment as soon as possible.

Some of the most common types of acute pain in the work environment include:

• Auto accidents (if you drive frequently for work)

• Slips and falls

•  Lifting/handling heavy equipment

•  Burns

•  Cuts/lacerations

•  Broken bones

Many health issues stemming from lack of movement can provide a major source of pain in the workplace. If you travel frequently for work (recurrent air travel, for example), you may be at risk for blood clots in your legs, as well as other health complications that come with sitting for extended periods of time in small spaces without moving.

Some of the most common types of chronic pain which can be caused or aggravated in the workplace include:

• Nerve Pain

  • Statistics indicate that more than 20 million Americans experience some form of nerve damage, and subsequent nerve pain. Treatable conditions range from diabetic neuropathy in the legs and feet, testicular pain and genicular nerve damage in and around the knee just to name a few.

• Neck and Shoulder Pain

  • Dr. Martinez’s expert staff offers a variety of injections and treatment alternatives in place of surgery to combat all forms of neck and shoulder pain.

• Extremity/Leg Pain

  • Pain in your extremities (arms and legs) brought on or aggravated by your work environment can include bursitis and carpal tunnel from constant computer/keyboard use.

• Joint Pain

  • Joint pain is commonly associated with long hours of active physical exertion on the job – frequent lifting, bending or squatting are a few examples. However, joint pain and inflammation in your hips, knees, and other crucial areas of your body’s network of joints can also stem from lack of activity like sitting at a desk.

• Back Pain

  • Your back supports a significant portion of your body’s muscle mass and is the center of balance and motion for a range of your body’s most important physical functions. In cases of back problems, both short and long term, appropriate back pain treatment like surgery or other means can drastically improve your productivity at work. Some of the most common sources of back pain in the workplace which typically require back pain treatment include:

    • Overexertion
    • Bad Posture
    • Disease
    • Overuse
    • Muscle Strain

Let Us Help Manage Your Pain

Fortunately, with the right medical guidance, there is a corresponding opportunity for pain alleviation. If you are dealing with the occasional debilitating effects of any form of pain in the workplace and you are seeking care and counsel, look no further than Dr. Raul G. Martinez. Dr. Martinez and his San Antonio-based team. The pain management specialists in his office are double-board certified in both pain management and pain treatment.

The San Antonio pain specialists at Dr. Martinez’s office are dedicated to helping those seeking relief from pain caused by disagreeable work conditions which inhibit productivity as well as a variety of other afflictions. Dr. Martinez’s patients include those struggling with cancer and anyone experiencing varying degrees of pain and discomfort. His team treats

those seeking back pain relief, anyone with diabetes and other persistent medical conditions, and patients pursuing relief from chronic and acute leg pain.

His staff is available to answer all your questions related to pain, your work environment and how it can affect your body.

For more information about our customizable treatment options, or to schedule an appointment at one of the three San Antonio pain management clinics, contact the offices today.

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