These terms may not seem scary to the common person, but they certainly have been the cause of many a sleepless night for many people: Cumulative trauma disorder. Repetitive strain injury. Overuse syndrome. Carpal tunnel syndrome.
Known by a variety of names, these painful hand conditions have become increasingly more prevalent in the workplace, especially for those who spend countless hours in front of a computer monitor, banging away at a keyboard. These people suffer from the variety of hand and wrist ailments and injuries because of poorly designed workstations, hours of extended typing with no relief and improper use of a computer mouse.Early warning signs include fatigue, numbness and tingling in the hands and fingers and general discomfort in the affected areas. The pain does not lessen and sometimes worsens, even with rest. Unrelated activities sometimes aggravate the condition and increase the pain.
“People take it for granted that it’s only a little bit of pain, that it will eventually go away,” said Sal Giardina, the clinical coordinator for Kessler Rehabilitation Center in North Bergen last week.
Kessler will sponsor a free hand screening clinic on Tuesday, Oct. 24, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Palisades Fitness and Wellness Center, 7700 River Road in North Bergen.
“The little pain can escalate and cause a lot of problems,” Giardina said. “That’s why we’re here to help. We focus on the problem and try to give advice for what medical treatment is needed. We try to set them straight and perhaps recommend either the medication, an exercise program or an orthopedic doctor that they should see.”
Men and women who suffer from acute or chronic hand and wrist pain are invited to receive the free screening. Sandy Abdelahad, an occupational therapist and certified hand therapist at Kessler Rehabilitation Center, and Dr. Jen F. Lee, a board certified orthopedic surgeon who holds a specialty certification in hand and upper extremity surgery, will provide the screenings. They will also address any concerns people may have about hand pain and possible treatment.
“Definitely, everyone is welcome,” said Giardina, who coordinates a series of similar free clinics throughout the area. “We did a mass mailing to residents of North Bergen and handed out fliers. But we want to make sure that we reach out to everyone. Everyone who does extended work at a computer terminal should want to attend or anyone who does a lot of repetitive work with their hands. It’s also for the elderly and for those who have had athletic injuries to their hands.”
Added Giardina, “We want to be able to teach the community that there is help. We focus on the problem and try to help by giving advice. We pride ourselves on trying to help.”
Giardina said that the medical experts will make recommendations for treatment, but will only recommend surgery as a last resort.
“It usually can be treated with anti-inflammatory medications, rest, exercises and perhaps wearing a splint for a while,” Giardina said. “But hand pain is not something that should be lightly regarded. It can be very serious if not treated properly. Even with surgery, there is never the guarantee that the nerve isn’t bothered again.”
According to Giardina, there are some warning signs for people with hand troubles. However, the risk of further injury can be eliminated by following some specific guidelines:
• Rest the hand from repetitive tasks or alternate easy and more difficult work. Rotate work activities and change hands frequently.
• Proper hand gripping, using the whole hand and all of your fingers to grasp items, rather than just the thumb and index fingers, will reduce stress on the wrist.
• Keep your wrists in a neutral position. Avoid flexed, extended or twisted positions for long periods of time.
• Decrease force and speed of hand and arm rotation. Use power tools whenever possible.
• Exercise to condition and strengthen the arm and hand muscles. Take short breaks to stretch and exercise during the day.
• Seek help if symptoms persist. Get treatment while the condition is reversible. Waiting may result in permanent nerve damage.
• Work modifications, under the direction of your employer and therapist, can be designed to avoid damaging wrist positions and posture. For example, work tools should not put pressure on the base of the palm.
Those guidelines should go a long way in helping the hand pain. So should attending the free hand screening clinic.
“It will go to help a lot of problems and it’s free of charge,” Giardina said. “It should be a help to all who attend.”
For more information, contact Kessler Rehabilitation at (973) 243-8547.