While workplace injuries and workers’ compensation are often thought to be associated with severe, life-altering injuries, a large proportion of work-related injuries develop over time. These strain injuries, often referred to as stress injuries or repetitive motion injuries, can occur anywhere on the body. You may be able to seek workers’ comp benefits for your injuries if you can prove your work duties are to blame.
Our Baltimore repetitive stress injury lawyers at Belsky & Horowitz, LLC are prepared to help you with your case, so you can get the maximum compensation you deserve. We understand the stress and hardship a repetitive strain injury can put on you and your family and are prepared to represent you.
Common Repetitive Stress Injuries and Their Effects
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, repetitive stress injuries are temporary or permanent injuries to your muscles, nerves, ligaments, and tendons caused by repeating the same motions or postures over and over again. Below you’ll find a list of the most common motion injuries.
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve in your arm and hand is compressed by swollen ligaments and tendons. It is often found in people who use keyboards or work on assembly lines. The injury, which can worsen over time and often occurs in the dominant hand, can cause numbness, pain, and the loss of motion, flexibility, and strength in the area. In some instances, carpal tunnel may need to be treated with surgery.
- Tendonitis. Tendonitis occurs when tendons in your body become inflamed. Individuals who suffer from tendonitis often experience pain, swelling, tingling, numbness, stiffness, weakness, and sensitivity to cold and heat.
- Rotator Cuff Injuries. Rotator cuff injuries occur most often in people who repeatedly perform overhead motions in their jobs. As you repeat these motions, your tendon tissue slowly degenerates. You may suffer from a deep ache in your shoulder, disturbed sleep, and arm weakness. Physical therapy or surgery may be needed.
- Degenerative Disk Disease. Despite its name, degenerative disk disease is not a disease. It occurs when the cushioning between your vertebrae begins to thin. When this happens, your nerves become over stimulated and you feel pain. This can happen in your neck and down through your back. While this injury tends to get progressively better, it can still cause severe pain and a reduction in mobility.
- Cubital Tunnel Syndrome. Similar to carpal tunnel, cubital tunnel occurs when the ulnar nerve in your elbow is compressed. This compression can cause numbness or tingling pain in your elbow, wrist, hand, or fingers. Surgery may be necessary to correct this injury.
To improve your stress injury, your doctor may suggest a variety of treatments. Icing, splinting, and elevation is often common. In addition to that, you may be set up with a rehabilitation program. This program could include occupational therapy, exercise programs to stretch and strengthen the area, conditioning exercises to help prevent further injury, pain management techniques, and general education on your injury.
Filing a Repetitive Motion Injury Claim in Maryland
In order for the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission to consider your injury claim, you’ll need to be able to prove repetitive motions required by your job caused your injury. To do this, you’ll need to have your doctor indicate the connection between your job and motion injury.
When you file your claim, you may receive pushback from your employer or their insurers for your injury. If this is the case, our repetitive strain injury lawyers can help.
Get Started on Your Case with Our Repetitive Stress Injury Lawyers
If you’ve suffered a repetitive stress injury as a result of your job, you deserve workers’ compensation. Our attorneys are prepared to answer any questions you may have about Maryland’s workers’ comp policy, help you submit your claim, and fight for your benefits. Contact us online or by phone at 410-234-0010 or 800-895-5333 for your free consultation.
