Repetitive Motion and Stress Injuries in the Workplace

Repetitive motion and stress-related injuries are some of the most common kinds of workplace injuries. Unfortunately, because they take a long time to develop, they can be among the most challenging types of injuries to get compensation for from an employer. Read on learn more about what repetitive motion injuries are and if you might be in a position to receive benefits.

What Are Repetitive Motion Injuries?

When most people think of workplace injuries, they picture dramatic accidents with industrial machinery. However, repetitive motion injuries come in all shapes and forms. Some common repetitive motion injuries are:

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: pain or tingling in your hands. This occurs because the wrist is bent at an unnatural angle for long periods. This injury is common among employees working extensively with computers.
• Tendinitis: inflammation of a tendon. More common in the upper body, this can occur from repetitive physical labor, straining the same muscles repeatedly.
• Cervical radiculopathy: the compression or strain of disks in the neck and back, often from manual labor.
• Epicondylitis: also known as “tennis elbow”, pain on the outside of the elbow or wrist caused by repeated forearm motions.
• Loss of hearing: hearing damage can be gradual and quickly come from the usage of industrial machinery like jackhammers or leafblowers.

Common symptoms of a repetitive motion injury are pain, a tingling sensation, weakness in the hand, wrist pain, elbow pain, or numbness.

How Does Filing a Claim for a Repetitive Motion Injury Work?

Repetitive motion injuries can come in all fields. What they share in common is that they generally occur gradually. Some people might think that they are too late to file a claim by the time they are aware of the injury. However, this is incorrect: in Missouri, you have 30 days to report a repetitive motion injury once you determine your job has caused it.

Employers may claim that the injury did not occur on the site or refuse a claim because it was a gradual injury. If this is the case and you have no done so already, it’s a good idea to speak with an experienced attorney.

What To Do

If you have determined that you have a repetitive motion injury due to your job, the first thing you should do is report the incident to your employer. Explain to them how the injury happened to file a claim with the workers’ compensation company. They may compensate you for your injuries, medical bills, loss of wages, and other potential damages. However, they may dispute your claim.

Speak With an Experienced Work Injury Lawyer

If your insurance company or employer is disputing your claim of a repetitive motion injury, seek an attorney with experience dealing with carpal tunnel and other repetitive motion injuries. Reach out to the Law Office of James M. Hoffman 24/7 for a free consultation call.