What are Repetitive Stress Injuries?
Repetitive stress injuries occur due to the placement of too much stress on a joint through repeated motions or overuse of the tendons and muscles surrounding the joint. The best known repetitive stress injury is carpal tunnel syndrome, which is marked by painful swelling in the wrist. However, every joint in the body is susceptible to repetitive stress injury. The result is pain, numbness, or an uncomfortable tingling sensation that can make performing one’s occupational duties difficult at best, and impossible at worst.
Common Repetitive Stress Injuries
The following are among the most common repetitive stress injuries suffered in various occupations. Any of these may form the basis of a legitimate workers’ compensation claim:
- Carpel tunnel syndrome: swelling in the wrist that affects sensation in the entire hand
- De Quervain’s disease: inflammation of a tendon connected to the thumb
- Cubital tunnel syndrome: swelling of the nerve behind the elbow, affecting the elbow and the hand
- Epicondylitis: commonly known as “tennis elbow,” though common among construction workers and other people involved in heavy labor
- Tendonitis: pain caused by overuse of tendons in the shoulder, arm, or knee
- Cervical radiculopathy: commonly known as a “pinched nerve,” this compression of the disks in the neck can lead to pain in the neck, shoulders, and back
- Myofascial damage: damage to overused muscles
Golitko & Daly Can Help
It doesn’t matter whether you are a clerk at a grocery store, an office worker who uses a computer every day, an assembly line worker, a truck driver, or a warehouse employee – you are susceptible to repetitive stress injury. The nature of your job has no bearing on your right to workers’ compensation. If you have any questions about repetitive stress injuries or workers’ compensation benefits, please call or email Golitko & Daly today.
Unfortunately, because repetitive stress injuries do not produce the immediate symptoms of more catastrophic injuries, many people who file legitimate workers’ compensation claims after suffering repetitive stress injuries are denied. The attorneys of Golitko & Daly can help you if your workers’ compensation claim was wrongfully denied. To arrange an evaluation of your repetitive stress injury case, contact our personal injury law firm today.