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Learn More >>Repetitive Stress Injuries
Repetitive stress injuries, also known as cumulative trauma disorders, are painful and debilitating conditions that affect the muscles, nerves, tendons and soft tissues.
Repetitive stress injuries typically fall into the category of musculoskeletal injuries. These injuries occur because of overuse of a particular limb or joint. Depending on the kind of occupation they are in, workers may be at risk for certain kinds of repetitive stress injuries. These injuries typically affect the wrist, rotator cuff or shoulder, elbow, knee, neck, and back.
Types of Repetitive Stress Injuries
Repetitive stress injuries can typically seen in the form of the following conditions
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Bursitis: Here, there is inflammation of the bursa, which are fluid filled sacs between the bones, tendons and muscles.
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Carpal tunnel syndrome - these injuries affect the carpal tunnel in the wrist area. Nerve compression can impact blood flow to the fingers, causing numbness, pain, loss of sensation and other signs of carpal tunnel syndrome.
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Ganglions - These are fluid-filling swellings that typically form on the hand, wrists and feet.
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Rotator cuff syndrome - This refers to repetitive stress of the shoulder muscles and bones.
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Tendinitis or inflammation of tendons
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Tennis elbow, where the forearm muscles are used excessively
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Golfer's elbow, which occurs on the inside of the elbow, compared to tennis elbow where the pain occurs on the outside.
Symptoms of Repetitive Stress Injuries
The earliest sign of repetitive stress injury is a tingling in the affected part, followed by or combined with a burning sensation. This may be followed by muscle weakness, numbness, and severe pain. The pain may last for weeks and months.
It can reach a stage where the person suffers crippling pain, and cannot use the affected muscles at all. In certain kinds of injuries like tennis elbow, there may be specific symptoms, like pain while gripping something.
Treatment for Repetitive Stress Injuries
In case of severe repetitive stress injury, there may be no treatment at all. That's why it's so important to ensure that you follow safe work practices in order to prevent the development of an RSI. In milder cases, prescription Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs may help alleviate the pain.
There's a lot that employers can do to reduce the risk of development of repetitive stress injuries. Automation must be used wherever appropriate, in order to reduce stress on workers. Workers must be trained to use adaptive equipment that allows them to perform repetitive tasks, without the risk of injury.
The Houston work injury lawyers at Schechter McElwee Shaffer and Harris represent workers who have developed a repetitive stress injury. If you have developed an RSI, contact a work accident lawyer at our law firm for a free initial evaluation of your case.
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