In some jobs, the chances of suffering a repetitive stress injury are high. If you are a nurse who routinely has to lift patients, you may suffer from nagging back pain. If you work in manufacturing, your shoulder could hurt each day after a long shift making product parts. If you work in an office, your wrists may hurt from all the typing you do.
Repetitive stress injuries in the workplace
If you find yourself in one of those situations, you may have a repetitive stress injury because of your work. About 60-75% of repetitive stress injuries in the United States are workplace injuries. Some of the most common work-related repetitive stress injuries include the following:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome (wrist pain or numbness from typing or repetitive motion).
- Bursitis in the knees, shoulders, elbows or hips. This inflammation in the joint can be the result of repeated lifting, bending and carrying heavy loads at work.
- Tendonitis in the elbows, shoulders or wrists.
- De Quervain’s disease, where inflammation causes reduced flexibility and movement in the thumb. De Quervain’s disease can cause an employee to lose the ability to grasp objects with their thumb.
- Thoracic outlet syndrome, which causes compressed nerves in the lower neck and near the first rib. Thoracic outlet syndrome can cause muscle spasms, neck and back pain and numbness. It often is the result of heavy lifting and poor posture.
Repetitive stress injuries and workers’ compensation
When you notice symptoms of a repetitive stress injury, you should seek medical attention promptly and report your injury to your employer. You can receive workers’ compensation for a repetitive stress injury caused by your job duties.
However, if your company’s workers comp insurance provider tries to prove you didn’t receive the injury at work or wants to limit your coverage, you should seek the help of a workers’ compensation attorney. You want to ensure you receive all the workers’ compensation benefits you can.
