RSIs and Workers’ Compensation
If a motion or muscle is repeated too many times, a stress injury can occur. RSIs or repeated stress injuries were first diagnosed around 280 years ago when scribers from all over the world suffered from wrist and arm fatigue due to their vigorous writing. This fatigue resulted in naming the pain RPI. Writer’s hand is a lesser form of RSI, but because the keyboard and computer have replaced paper and pens, RSI is not as common as it used to be. However, once a repetitive stress injuries presents itself, a worker might experience considerable pain with loss of strength and range of motion. Other jobs that involve construction or bartending may be breeding grounds for RSIs as well. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a form of RSI that is caused by the swelling of wrist tissue. Symptoms of RSIs include a burning sensation, tenderness and pain to the touch, hand cramps, numbness or a tingling sensation, and loss of motion range or loss of coordination in your hand. Over 100 jobs have been associated with RSIs according to the OSHA, or Occupational Safety and Health Administration. It is common for workers to develop an RSI over time but not notice until they begin to feel the symptoms. RSI symptoms can often resolve themselves over time with enough rest, but their intensity can increase over time if not properly cared for.
RSIs and Workers’ Compensation
A medically documented RSI can covered under worker’s compensation laws in every state, as long as it was work related. You should immediately inform your employer of your RSI injury once you feel it. You will also want to consult with a worker’s compensation lawyer so that you can insure you will receive fair compensation for expenses (like medical bills or lost wages). Make an appointment with your doctor, like an experienced knee pain doctor, so that you can begin to document your injury. If your repeated stress injury is documented by a doctor, you may actually be eligible for worker’s compensation. Physical surgery, therapy and rehabilitation can be covered. You must transfer to a lower paying job while you are in recovery for your injury if you receive temporary partial disability. If you are unable to work at all, this means that you have total disability. Proving your RSI can be hard to do, unless documented by a medical professional. Often times, doctors might treat them as minor strains and not label them as RSIs. The majority of workers with RSIs are advised to contact workers compensation attorneys to help represent them in their personal injury claims for worker’s compensation.
