Compensable Injuries: Repetitive Motion Injuries

Compensable Injuries: Repetitive Motion Injuries

Charlotte workers’ compensation lawyers often have to explain what injuries are compensable. This is because claiming that an injury occurred at work doesn’t automatically entitle you to compensation. You may yet have to establish this right. Some injuries are clearly compensable. However, getting comp benefits for some other on-the-job wounds can be challenging.

Repetitive motion injuries fall within this latter class. Employers very easily deny responsibility for these types of wounds. For example, they can claim that these injuries aren’t directly related to your employment. That’s why it’s crucial to hire experienced Charlotte workers’ comp lawyers. They can protect your right to compensable injury benefits. In addition, an excellent attorney will get you the maximum available sum.

What Are Repetitive Motion Injuries?

Repetitive motion injuries refer to body damage from continuous repetitive actions. Usually, they affect muscles, nerves, tendons, and ligaments. Notably, they’re also called repetitive stress or repetitive strain injuries. Repetitive motion injuries often develop over a long period. They can lead to numbness, pain, and body weakness when they do.

Repetitive motion injuries are popular amongst athletes. However, Charlotte employees also succumb to them. When employees overuse a particular muscle or group of muscles, they can hurt themselves. Furthermore, your body’s inability to heal consequential tears leads to repetitive motion injuries.

Sources of Work-Related Repetitive Motion Injuries

Most repetitive activities you perform at work place you at risk of repetitive motion injuries. Notably, these would include ordinarily harmless daily actions. However, it’s the continuous action that endangers your health. Examples of these activities include:

• Lifting heavy materials frequently
• Typing on your keyboard daily, especially for secretaries
• Using hand tools for manual activities
• Activities that require you to frequently run or jog around

Indeed, these are everyday activities. Therefore, you may think that the resulting injuries are normal. The truth, though, is that your job is hurting you. So, it would help if you considered getting comp benefits.

Types of Repetitive Motion Injuries

There are multiple examples of repetitive motion injuries. However, we’ll focus on the two major types below.

Tendonitis

Tendons are tissues that connect muscles to bones. Furthermore, they allow for movement at joints throughout your body. So, tendonitis is an inflammation of the tendons around particular muscles. Common locations for this inflammation include your shoulder and elbow. Notably, male employees are more likely to suffer tendinitis.

Bursitis

The bursa is a small sac located around areas where friction frequently occurs in your body. They cushion and lubricate the parts between tendons and bones. Just like tendonitis, bursitis is the inflammation of this bursa sac. Any area that experiences repetitive body friction is susceptible to bursitis. These would include your elbow, hip, and knee.

There are other types of bursitis, including:

• Traumatic bursitis,
• Infectious bursitis, and
• Gouty bursitis

Finally, it’s noteworthy that younger workers are more susceptible to traumatic bursitis.

Signs and Symptoms of Repetitive Motion Injuries

There are several symptoms of repetitive motion injuries. However, pain is the major sign of tendinitis. The inflamed body part is usually painful for the employee. Further movement of this inflamed tendon can also increase the pain. In addition, the outer skin will often be red and warm.

Pain is also a symptom of bursitis. However, tenderness and reduced movement range around the affected area are also pointers. Furthermore, injured workers will experience outer swellings.

All these are signs that you may have succumbed to work-related repetitive motion injuries. Finally, it’s best not to write these symptoms off as regular body pains. You’d, instead, be safer visiting a medical practitioner.

Can I Recover Workers’ Compensation Benefits for Repetitive Motion Injuries?

Yes, North Carolina’s law allows comp benefits for repetitive motion injuries. However, you’ll have to establish that the compensable injuries occurred in the course of your employment. This rule applies to all work-related injuries in North Carolina.

Therefore, the first step must be to report the injury to your employer. In Charlotte, NC, you have only thirty days to notify the business owner. Missing this deadline can extinguish your right to comp benefits.

Charlotte Workers’ Comp Lawyers Can Get You Comp Benefits!

Have you sustained repetitive motion injuries at work? If you have, then you may be eligible for compensation. Is the workers’ comp process proving more technical than for other injuries? There’s no surprise here; however, you need the best Charlotte workers’ compensation attorneys.

At Waple & Houk, you can get the legal representation you need. We’ve handled and won complex workers’ comp claims for years. Therefore, we can help you get the comp benefits you deserve. All you have to do is call us today for a FREE consultation.