Worker’s Comp Benefits for Repetitive Motion Injuries

workers comp for repetitive motion injuries

When most people think of a workplace injury, the image of a worker being hurt by machinery, an impact, or slip and fall often comes to mind. However, repetitive motion injuries are quite common as well. Since they occur over time, they are harder to prove. But a repetitive strain injury, or RSI, can be debilitating enough that an employee files a worker’s comp claim. Injury can occur due to anything from lifting heavy boxes to typing on a keyboard.

Types of Repetitive Motion Injuries

Repetitive stress injuries can affect any part of the body that’s subject to the same continual motion for hours on end. Symptoms may include tingling, tenderness and pain, numbness, loss of strength and/or flexibility, and reduced range of motion in the affected area. Some of the most common repetitive injuries we see include:

  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Damage to the nerves of the wrist can result in chronic pain as well as numbness. Without treatment, the condition can progress to a loss of function in one’s fingers and hands.
  • Tendonitis: Overuse or an injury involving a tendon can cause it to become inflamed. Tendinitis most commonly occurs in the wrist, elbow, finger, knee, or thigh.
  • Bursitis: Repetitive motion can cause injury to bursa sacs around major joints, which are filled with fluid to reduce friction between bone, tendons, muscle, and other tissues.
  • Arthritis: Swelling and tenderness in the joints, often associated with age, but which can be exacerbated by repetitive motion, especially if you’ve sustained a joint injury in the past.
  • Chronic Back Pain: Repeated heavy lifting can strain muscles and ligaments in the back; those in poorer physical condition are more susceptible to back injuries.
  • Rotator Cuff Syndrome: If you have pain when using your arm, the group of muscles and tendons around your shoulder joint may have been injured by repetitive tasks.

Individuals Most at Risk

There are many occupations in which you could be at risk of wrist strain, joint injuries, and other RSIs. Some types of jobs that put workers at risk include:

  • Janitors
  • Cashiers
  • Delivery Workers
  • Bus Drivers
  • Cooks
  • Assembly Line Workers
  • Construction Workers
  • Firefighters
  • Plumbers
  • Athletes
  • Musicians
  • & More

How To Make A Claim

When you notice the symptoms of an RSI, it should be reported to your employer. You should then have it examined by a doctor to confirm the type of injury it is. Follow through with any treatment they recommend. Seeking medical attention allows you to have an accurate record of your injury and the treatment that you received. This documentation can serve as proof of the cause of your injury and the expenses incurred as a result.

Next, consult with a personal injury lawyer who specializes in worker’s comp, with the experience to help get you the most coverage possible. Your employer is sure to fight your claim with the help of powerful insurance companies. With legal counsel, you could receive compensation for medical bills, temporary or permanent disability, and lost work hours and wages.

Contact The Law Offices of Jacob Emrani

Our Los Angeles worker’s comp attorneys are familiar with the rules on filing claims in California. If you are in a high-risk job and have thumb pain when gripping, limited wrist movements, joint stiffness, inflammation, or other signs of repetitive motion injuries, contact The Law Offices of Jacob Emrani. We can get you compensation for financial losses that resulted from your injury and its impacts on your life. To learn more or receive a free consultation, call 888-952-2952 today!

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