It is not just workplace accidents that can leave you injured and in need of a workers’ compensation law firm that can help you get the medical care and the compensation you deserve. Repetitive stress injuries come on gradually but can leave you with debilitating pain.

“Repetitive stress injuries include a large group of conditions that primarily affect the soft tissues, including the nerves, tendons, ligaments, and muscles,” VeryWell Health says. 

Repetitive stress injuries, also referred to as repetitive strain injuries, don’t happen suddenly or as the result of a single incident. “Repetitive stress injuries are caused by repeated motions performed in the course of normal work or daily activities,” the medical experts at VeryWell Health explain. 

Over time, those repeated motions can cause damage to your muscles, tendons, ligaments and even your nerves. Millions of people suffer from repetitive stress injuries, which can be very painful. And many of those people were injured as a result of job-related activities, such as: 

• Working on a computer
• Operating machinery on an assembly line
• Ringing up purchases at the grocery store
• Professional athletes and musicians are also susceptible to repetitive stress injuries due to their training regimens.

According to VeryWell Health, common repetitive stress injuries include:

• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Bursitis
• Tendinitis
• Epicondylitis (tennis elbow)
• Ganglion cyst
• Tenosynovitis
• Trigger finger

How do you know if you have a repetitive stress injury?

You should consult a doctor or contact your human resources department if your work entails motions that are repeated throughout your shift and you begin to experience any of the following symptoms:

• Burning pain
• Numbness in the affected area
• A tingling, pins-and-needles sensation
• Swelling and heat at the site of the injury
• Weakness 
• Stiffness 

Recovering from a repetitive stress injury is a time-consuming prospect that typically involves stopping the movements that initially caused the injury, which can make it impossible for you to do your job. 

If you have a repetitive stress injury and you have questions about your employers’ responsibilities under the workers’ compensation system, contact Fort Lauderdale workers’ comp attorney Nick Panebianco for a free consultation.