Repetitive stress injuries are very common among Pennsylvania workers. They come from a wide range of scenarios for those in manual labor positions, and they are all the result of one common issue. That issue is constant overwork of specific body parts such as the hands, shoulders, and back. Back injuries are actually very common and often the most debilitating because they can actually restrict mobility ongoing in life with very few treatment options.
Stress reduction therapy
All repetitive motion injuries begin with soreness that indicates a more serious problem is developing. These symptoms of a bigger problem can often be reduced by resting the body part as much as possible and changing the method of movement whenever possible. The problem with this alteration is that duty often calls, and the same overworked body part continues to take the abuse of continual movement. For these workers, pain medications are usually the answer followed by an eventual surgery on the affected body component.
Surgical repair
While some repetitive motion injuries can be repaired with surgery, very few actually regain full range of motion to former ability to move. Even with rehabilitative therapy, most workers are unable to continue in the same work position they once held, which then can lead to a workers’ compensation claim when they are finally unable to work in any capacity. Retraining for a new position may be possible but is not always feasible.
It is important to seek treatment early for any medical issues that appear to be manifesting into repetitive motion injuries such as a carpal tunnel or a ruptured disc in the back. Building an ongoing track record of the developing problem can be essential when it comes time to finally seek surgical repair and file for workers’ compensation benefits due to the lack of a specific accident injury report.