Repetitive motion injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome or cubital tunnel syndrome can be debilitating and often frightening to injured workers. Your hands and arms can be your livelihood and not having them perform the way you need can send off alarm bells.
Repetitive motion injuries may sometimes develop slowly but can significantly impact your ability to work, perform daily tasks, and enjoy life.
What Are Repetitive Motion Injuries?
Repetitive motion injuries occur when frequent, repeated movements put stress on certain parts of the body over time.
For example:
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome happens when the median nerve in the wrist is compressed, often due to repetitive hand or wrist movements.
- Cubital Tunnel Syndrome involves the ulnar nerve, which runs along the inner elbow, becoming irritated or compressed due to repetitive elbow bending or pressure on the area.
These injuries are often common among office workers, factory employees, healthcare professionals, and anyone whose job requires repetitive tasks like typing, lifting, or operating machinery. Left untreated, these conditions can worsen, leading to chronic pain, numbness, and even permanent damage.
Accidental Injury vs. Occupational Disease
If you’ve suffered a repetitive motion injury, you may wonder: “Does this qualify as an accident or an occupational disease under workers’ compensation?”
Here’s the difference:
- Accidental Injury: This refers to a specific incident or event that caused harm. For instance, if you slipped and fell at work, breaking your wrist, that’s an accidental injury. The event is sudden and identifiable.
- Occupational Disease: This term applies to injuries or illnesses that develop over time as a direct result of your job. Repetitive motion injuries, such as carpal tunnel or cubital tunnel syndrome, fall into this category.
Unlike accidents, occupational diseases don’t have a single triggering event; instead, they arise gradually from the demands of your work.
Workers’ Compensation for Repetitive Motion Injuries
Navigating workers’ compensation for occupational diseases can be challenging. Unlike accidental injuries, it’s not always immediately clear when or how your injury began.
Employers or insurance companies may question whether your injury is work-related and deny your workers’ compensation benefits.
At Kornbluth Ginsberg Law Group, we’re here to guide you through the process.
We’ll help you:
- Prove the Work Connection: We’ll work to show how your job duties caused or contributed to your condition.
- Obtain Medical Documentation: Comprehensive medical evidence is crucial in occupational disease cases. We’ll work to help ensure your condition is properly diagnosed and documented.
- Fight for Full Benefits: Benefits can include compensation for medical care, wage replacement, and possibly vocational rehabilitation. We’ll work to ensure you receive the benefits you deserve.
Why Choose Kornbluth Ginsberg Law Group?
We know how frustrating and overwhelming it can feel to deal with a work-related injury, especially one that develops over time. Our compassionate workers’ compensation team will listen to your story, explain your rights in plain language, and handle every aspect of your claim so you can focus on healing.
Repetitive motion injuries are serious and deserve attention. Don’t let the complexities of the workers’ compensation system stand in your way. Contact Kornbluth Ginsberg Law Group today for a free consultation. We’re here to help you get back on track.
