How often do you make the same repetitive movements while at work? If you answered “quite often,” then you may end up with a repetitive motion injury. No matter what your job is, you could incur injured ligaments, torn or damaged muscles, or even permanent nerve damage just because you move repeatedly in the same manner over the course of your workday. When the pain becomes too bad, you could face a number of consequences, from accumulating medical expenses to losing your job because you can no longer do the work.
What Is a Repetitive Motion Injury?
A repetitive motion injury is exactly what it sounds like. It’s an injury that occurs after making the same movements in a repeated manner for a lengthy period of time. The ligaments and tendons in your body aren’t designed for this type of treatment. When they are moved in this same way over and over again, they end up getting strained, sprained or torn. On top of this, your muscles could be damaged as well, and some people have permanent nerve damage from making repetitive motions. One of the most common of these injuries is carpal tunnel syndrome, where the space inside of the wrist (called the carpal tunnel) which the nerves run through, swells, pressing on them. This causes pain, numbness, and a tingling feeling in the hand and fingers. However, this is just one example. There are numerous other examples of repetitive motion injuries.
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Repetitive Motion Injuries Aren’t Just Limited to Factory Workers
When people think of repetitive motion injuries, the first thing that comes to mind is factory workers. Yes, they do tend to make the same movements repeatedly through the work day, and many of them are prone to these types of injuries. However, they aren’t alone. Office workers too can acquire an injury due to repetitive motion. Additionally, construction workers can injure their backs or the tendons and muscles in their legs. There are many professions that are prone to these repetitive motion injuries.
Who is Responsible for the Medical Bills?
Typically, the injured worker believes they are the sole party responsible for the medical bills incurred for their injury treatment. Since they were injured at work, they may qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. It’s important to check with a workers’ compensation lawyer to see if you have any recourse.
If you are struggling due to a work-related repetitive motion injury, please call our experienced team of Workers’ Compensation attorneys today!
