A repetitive stress or strain injury is an injury that occurs when a person repeats the same motion over and over. Depending on the motion and how long the person takes part in the movement, a repetitive stress injury can lead to muscle or nerve pain and damage. These types of injuries can commonly occur in certain workplaces. Jobs that require manual labor or tedious and repetitive steps can cause stiffness, strains, and pain in fingers, wrists, shoulders, elbows, necks, knees, and backs. If you are suffering from a repetitive stress injury related to your work, contact a Rockland County worker’s compensation lawyer to discuss your options for receiving compensation.
What Causes Repetitive Stress Injuries?
As established, repetitive stress injuries mostly affect joints. While some workers do the same job with repetitive motions for years and do not develop any injuries or issues, many people do experience pain. You might have a repetitive stress injury if you begin experiencing symptoms including:
- Aches
- Throbbing
- Burning
- Stiffness
- Cramping
- Swelling
- Numbness
- Tingling
Carpel tunnel syndrome is one of the most common types of repetitive stress injuries, but there are many variations. A repetitive stress injury can be caused by any of the following and more.
- Using your wrists or fingers for jobs like hairdressing and typing
- Playing sports such as tennis or golf that require repetitive and aggressive movements
- Assembly line work
- Moving heavy objects
- Using tools that require frequent turning, a strong grip, or other movements
What is Workers’ Compensation?
Workers’ compensation is a type of insurance that most companies are required to provide their employees. It is a no-fault program that provides workers with compensation for medical expenses and treatment, wage replacement, and disability.
Workers who are injured on the job or face an ailment or disease related to their role may be eligible for this type of compensation. When a job position requires an employee to participate in repetitive motions constantly over a long period of time, their strain injury can qualify them for workers’ compensation.
How Can I Prove a Repetitive Stress Injury for Workers’ Comp?
If you sustain a repetitive stress injury as a direct result of your job, you may be entitled to receive workers’ compensation. There are different ways that you can be awarded compensation, but regardless of the type of injury, you will have to prove that you deserve compensation.
For a repetitive stress injury, you will be required to prove that either your injury was caused by you performing the duties of your role, or that your work aggravated an injury that you already had.
You should keep detailed records of any medical reports or doctor’s notes to document the scope of your injury. Professional medical opinions will be important when making your case. Also, pay attention to the movements required for you to do your job. Do you type on a keyboard for hours a day? Do you notice your pain intensifying when you complete certain tasks? Document all relevant information and observations and work with a skilled attorney to develop your workers’ compensation claim.
