What is a repetitive stress injury?

If you spend a lot of time at work doing similar actions over and over again – such as typing at a keyboard for long periods – you may experience what is known as a repetitive stress injury (RSI). This type of workplace injury can become severe and can make your job challenging to perform.

While many people might consider worker’s compensation only covers serious workplace accidents, that’s not always the case. Repetitive stress injuries that are a result of your occupation can also make you applicable to receive worker’s compensation benefits.

The most common types of RSI include:

• Carpal tunnel syndrome – Carpal tunnel is caused by a compression or pinching of the median nerve found in your wrist. Many desk jobs that require a lot of typing or writing can develop carpal tunnel.

• Tendinitis – When the tendons in your body become inflamed or irritated, it can cause tendinitis. Your tendons are the thick cords that connect your muscles to your bone. Jobs that require you to lift heavy objects can result in tendinitis.

• Bursitis – This type of RSI is the result of inflammation of the bursae – small fluid sacs between your bones and tendons. Different types of bursitis can develop in places such as your knees, elbows, or hips. A job that has you on your feet all day could also cause bursitis in your heels.

You may have developed an RSI if you experience any of the following symptoms to a specific area of your body:

• Mild to severe pain

• Swelling

• Tingling

• Tenderness

• Loss of strength

• Loss of feeling or sensitivity, especially to heat or cold

If you believe you have a repetitive stress injury, you must seek medical attention immediately. Once you receive a proper diagnosis, if your RSI is a result of your job, you should consider seeking legal action as well.

The work you do is essential, but you shouldn’t have to pay for it with an injury. An experienced lawyer can determine if you’re eligible to pursue worker’s compensation. The benefits you may receive could help you with the pain and suffering that you will experience due to your injury.