When you work hard in construction, manufacturing or at a warehouse, you put a lot of strain on your body. Maybe after spending years working in an Amazon warehouse facility, your back aches in pain from lifting and moving so many boxes. Or if you work on an assembly line at a food manufacturer, you suffer from severe shoulder pain and limited range of motion from moving your arms the same way, day after day, as you assemble product packaging. In either of these situations, you likely are suffering from a repetitive stress injury because of your workplace duties.
Workplace repetitive stress injuries
Each year, about 1.8 million U.S. workers suffer from work-related repetitive stress injuries, according to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA). Repetitive stress injuries develop over time and are eligible for workers’ compensation.
Some of the most common workplace repetitive stress injuries include
- Carpal tunnel syndrome, where excessive and repetitive pressure is put on the nerve that runs down your arm, through your wrist and controls your thumb
- Back pain or disc damage
- Tendonitis, excessive swelling around your body’s tendons
- Bursitis, developing fluid-filled sacs in your joints
- Rotator cuff injuries
Those who are more likely to suffer repetitive stress injuries at work are those who must keep the same posture at work for hours, those who have jobs that require heavy lifting, or those who repeat the same motions over and over again as part of their work. Industries where repetitive stress injuries are common include
- Carpentry and electrical wiring
- Assembly-line manufacturing
- Shipping and receiving
- Delivery driving
- Healthcare
- Office administration
Suffering a workplace repetitive stress injury
If you suffer a repetitive stress injury at work or because of your work duties, you need to inform your employer as soon as possible. You will need to file a workers’ compensation claim and seek medical treatment for your injury.
If your employer’s workers’ compensation provider questions whether you received your repetitive stress injury because of your job, you should consult an experienced attorney. You might need to fight for the workers’ compensation benefits you deserve.
With proper workers’ compensation, you can pay for the medical treatment you need for your repetitive stress injury and focus on your recovery. Then hopefully, you can return to work when your injury has healed.