Is Working from Home a Pain in Your Neck?

It’s normal to feel a bit stiff after a day of desk work, but if every day involves sitting at a computer or looking down at a laptop, problems can arise. Taking breaks, stretching, and correcting your posture can help prevent neck pain, but if the problem persists, it might be time to seek a diagnosis and explore your treatment options. 

At The Spine and Sports Center in Houston and Sugarland, Texas, Dr. Benoy Benny and our team can help you with neck pain, whether caused by trauma, work, or simply bad leisure-time habits.

Causes of neck pain 

If your neck pain began shortly after you started working from home, there’s a good chance that it’s caused by muscle strain. Your cervical spine contains some of the smallest and most fragile bones in your body, yet it supports the weight of your head for hours every day. 

Poor posture, especially while hunching over a desk, computer, or smartphone, can overuse certain muscles in your neck. In the short term, this causes aching and stiffness, but over time, it can lead to kyphosis, or a hump at the top of your back. 

Alternate causes of neck pain

Muscle strain might not be your only problem, however. Other causes of chronic neck pain include: 

• Nerve compression
• Joint degeneration
• Injuries, like whiplash 

If you’ve recently been in an accident, have osteoarthritis, or a history of herniated discs, be sure to mention this to Dr. Benny during your consultation. 

Alleviating neck pain 

Painkillers aren’t the only way to alleviate neck pain. You can actually prevent and alleviate pain yourself by doing the following: 

• Taking frequent breaks, especially while working 
• Setting reminders to unclench your jaw 
• Applying hot/cold therapy with ice and heat packs 
• Exercising, including neck stretches and full body poses
• Correcting your posture, especially while sitting at your desk or texting 
• Investing in a posture corrector brace 

It might also be helpful to adjust your desk, chair, and computer so that your monitor is at eye level. Using your chair's armrests can help with your posture as well.

When to consult a specialist 

If home remedies and posture correction fail to alleviate your pain, it might be a sign that something else is wrong. Dr. Benny can help diagnose the cause and suggest treatment options, including: 

• Diagnostic facet joint injections
• Steroid injections
• Radiofrequency ablation (RFA)
• Epidural steroid injections 
• Selective nerve root blocks

Tired of rubbing at your sore neck? Schedule a consultation with the team at The Spine and Sports Center today by calling the location closest to you, or book an appointment online.