Employees whose jobs require them to make certain motions over and over can suffer repetitive stress injuries (RSI) as a result. When a person is required to perform the same motion or task over an extended period of time, this can cause considerable stress and strain to a person’s muscles, ligaments, tendons, and nerve endings, resulting in chronic pain and oftentimes requiring expensive surgeries to be corrected. Ranging from temporary discomfort to permanent damage, these disorders are among the most common types of work-related injuries.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
By far the most common type of RSI is carpal tunnel syndrome. This painful disorder involves the inflammation of muscles, ligaments, and tendons in a person’s wrists and forearm, thereby placing pressure on the median nerve. Compressing the median nerve results in numbness, weakness, and tingling in the hand and arm. If left untreated, carpal tunnel syndrome can potentially cause permanent nerve damage and complete loss of function.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is most common in people with professions that require:
- Typing
- Working on an assembly line
- Strong gripping
- Scanning barcodes
- Use of vibrating hand tools
- Turning keys
- Assembling small parts
Tennis Elbow
Epicondylitis, or “tennis elbow,” is another common RSI that causes chronic elbow and upper forearm pain. Like carpal tunnel, the strain of repetitive hand, wrist and forearm movements can cause the tendons of the elbow to become inflamed and cause discomfort. Despite being called “tennis elbow,” this type of RSI is not only found in tennis players. Tennis elbow commonly occurs in painters, plasterers, and auto mechanics as a result of repeated turning motions and arm curling.
The following are all symptoms of tennis elbow:
- Pain squeezing objects or shaking hands
- Sudden, sharp pains in the outside elbow
- Elbow pain when lifting objects or using tools
Treatment for tennis elbow includes cortisone injections, use of an elbow brace, physical therapy, and sometimes surgery.
Suffered an RSI? Call (800) 980-6905
If you have suffered a repetitive stress injury as a result of your occupation, a skilled Orange County workers’ compensation lawyer from Alvandi Law Group, P.C. can help you seek monetary benefits through your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance. With more than 10 years of dedicated legal experience and millions of dollars in recoveries, we can provide the results-driven representation you need to maximize your chances of receiving your entitled compensation.
Schedule a free initial consultation or contact us online to get started towards filing a claim.