When a body part makes the same motion dozens or hundreds of times a week, it can begin to suffer considerable consequences. Employees of all types of jobs are vulnerable to these injuries. When these injuries can take months or years to develop, how can you tell if you are suffering from a repetitive motion injury (RMI)?
Injuries from repetitive strain make up more than two-thirds of workplace injuries. The sooner someone recognizes the signs of these injuries, the better their chances are of treating it. What are the symptoms of these injuries?
Common locations of RMIs
Depending on the nature of a job, different areas of the body see the consequences of repeated actions. Body parts that most commonly see injuries include shoulders, elbows, hands, knees, wrists, forearms, and necks. When these body parts are hurt, they can experience many forms of symptoms.
The symptoms
Repetitive motions wear away at nerves and tendons over a long time. This erosion can appear as pain, stiffness, tenderness, weakness, numbness, cramping, swelling, or aching. It can be easy to confuse these injuries as just fatigue from a long day of work. A victim of an RMI may not even notice they are experiencing an injury because of how long it can to develop.
What can you do?
If you have received a repetitive motion injury, your workers’ compensation should provide fair compensation to cover your damage. A personal injury attorney can help you identify the nature and severity of your injuries and determine what course of action is right for you.
Do not ignore the signs
Part of what makes RMIs so dangerous is how easy they are to mistake to be something else or overlook entirely. If you believe you are experiencing an RMI at any stage, contact your doctor immediately.