4 Common Repetitive Stress Work Injuries

Sometimes workplace injuries do not stem from a specific incident, but rather develop over time. These injuries are known as Repetitive Stress Injuries (or RSIs). They can develop over several years at a desk job or a job that involves manual labor. Here are 4 of the most common workplace repetitive stress injuries.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

A painful condition in the hands and arms that stems from a pinched nerve in the carpal tunnel (a passageway in the wrist that protects numerous tendons and a major nerve). Symptoms include pain and numbness in the hand, fingers, or arm. If left untreated, carpal tunnel syndrome can lead to permanent nerve damage in the hand.

Tennis Elbow

This RSI is marked by an inflammation or tearing of the tendon near the elbow. Common symptoms of tennis elbow include pain in the elbow and forearm, and a weak grasp. Though it gets its name from being a common tennis injury, tennis elbow is also common in painters, plumbers, cooks, or any job that requires repetitive hand or wrist movement.

Tendonitis

Caused by repeated movements that put excess strain on the tendons and results in inflammation. This inflammation can immobilize the tendon and the nearby muscles and bones. Tendonitis is most common in the upper and lower body appendages. The most common symptoms of tendonitis are aches and pains around the affected area.

Bursitis

An inflammation of the brusa, fluid-filled sacs located near joints. Brusitis is caused by prolonged or repeated pressure on joints. It causes intense pain in the affected joint and can lead to restricted movement. Brusitis is common in manual labor jobs such as construction.

These and other repetitive stress injuries are often compensable under Minnesota law. If you believe you’ve sustained one of these injuries in the course of your work, contact a work comp attorney and make sure you get the benefits you’re entitled to.

What is the First Report of Injury in a Work Comp Case?

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A First Report of Injury (FROI) is the initial accident report you fill out with your employer following a work injury. Your employer should then submit this form to their insurance company and the State of Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry.

Filling Out the Appropriate Forms

It is important that this form be filled out to document that the injury took place. It should be filled out as close as possible to the actual injury date. If this form is not filled out it could make proving your claim more difficult in the future.

Document as much as you can about the injury as soon as possible, especially if you can’t fill out the FROI the same day you get injured. Grab a pen and paper and write down as much as you can remember. Some key pieces of information to record include:

When and where the injury occurred (Day, Time, Location).
Where the injury occurred on your body.
How the injury occurred.
Any witnesses to the accident.
Any pain or issues you are experiencing after the accident.

You’ll be able to recall key details more accurately if you write them down shortly after the incident, and odds are you’ll have access to a piece of paper or the notepad in your cell phone before getting your hands on a FROI form. If you have any questions about filling out the FROI, don’t hesitate to reach out to an attorney.

Can an Independent Medical Exam Report Make you go Back to Work?

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A lot of employees who are injured at work are nervous about their independent medical exam. One of the most common questions we get is: can an independent medical exam report make you go back to work after sustaining a work injury?

The Short Answer

No, the Independent Medical Exam (IME) report cannot make you go back to work. The choice to go back to work is entirely your own.

That being said, you should exercise caution before making the decision to refuse a job offer. If your refusal is determined to be unreasonable, the workers compensation insurer can cut off your wage loss. In determining what is considered “reasonable”, the IME looks at the facts of your specific case.

In reviewing your decision, your doctor’s opinion and restrictions will be considered. The judge will also consider additional factors which might be preventing you from going back to work. For example, if you worked nights prior to getting injured so that you could watch your kids during the day, and now the company wants you to go back to work during the day, your refusal will likely be considered reasonable. If you refuse to return because you “aren’t ready” despite being cleared by a doctor, or you don’t want to go back to work for that employer, your refusal will likely be ruled unreasonable.

Minnesota Work Comp Attorney

Listening to the advice of your doctor is generally a good idea, but you should also consult a trained workers’ compensation attorney before refusing any job offers.

How to Determine if You’re Eligible for Work Comp in Minnesota

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A person who is injured while working may be entitled to benefits under Minnesota workers’ compensation law. Determining eligibility and going about getting the compensation you deserve requires a good grasp of the Minnesota work comp laws, which are very complicated. Here is a basic breakdown.

Every Minnesota employer is required by law to have work comp insurance. An employee is eligible for work comp benefits if that employee suffers any of the following rising out of and in the course of employment:

A Personal Injury (regardless of who caused it)
An Occupational Disease (such as carpal tunnel syndrome)
Death

If you suffer any of these injuries during work, you could be entitled to benefits. But it’s not as easy as just collecting a check from your employer. There are certain things you need to prove in order to collect your compensation. Specifically, you must prove that:

You have sustained a personal injury/illness
This injury occurred “arising out of the employment.” In this sense there must be a “causal connection between the employment and the injury.” Injuries are determined case by case, and some are much easier to prove than others. For example, a crate falling on you at work is easier to determine than a back injury caused by years of heavy lifting.
You have sustained the injury “in the course of the employment,” or in other words, that the injury took place at work, and during work hours.

If you can prove all of these factors, then you are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. But the amount of compensation you receive is still a point of contention. Some employers will fight to make sure you get the bare minimum of compensation. That is where a skilled Minneapolis Work Comp Attorney can help make sure you get everything you deserve.

What Injuries Qualify for Workers Compensation?

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Any injury, illness, or condition that occurs at work or because of what you do at work qualifies for workers compensation in Minnesota. This also covers injuries that gradually develop over time.

If you have a broken bone due to a fall or something heavy hitting you, you may be covered by workers’ compensation laws. In addition, if you are responsible for engaging in a repetitive task, such as cutting meat or typing, this may cause strain. You may be able to receive money if you have a condition.

You need to keep the following in mind: even if you did not receive the first injury at work, you may still be owed money. An injury that gets worse at work may qualify you for workers’ compensation. For example, if you have a bum knee that is aggravated due to walking and lifting, you might be eligible.

Toxins, pollutants, and asbestos can cause unseen harm. Unsafe working conditions can cause chronic harm that lasts for decades. Lung, heart, and other internal injuries are covered by workers’ compensation laws.

Minnesota Law

The state of Minnesota protects its citizens’ mental health. Our laws provide compensation when:

Mental stress causes a physical injury
Physical trauma causes a mental injury
Mental stress causes a mental injury

Certain emotional issues, such as PTSD, can make you eligible to receive benefits under the law. You should keep in mind that mental stress causing a physical injury may be a little bit more difficult to prove. The same is true with mental stress causing a mental injury.

For example, if a cop or firefighter pulls someone out of a burning building, that might scar them mentally. In certain circumstances, they will be able to receive workers’ compensation. Other situations are not as likely to make people qualified to receive workman’s comp for mental injuries.

Reaching out to a lawyer will help you understand if your injury makes you eligible.