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Repetitive Stress Injury Attorneys in Louisville, Kentucky

Repetitive motions that lead to pain and injuries are all too common in Kentucky. Though the popular notion of a carpal tunnel sufferer is that of someone who labors at a keyboard all day, there are many other occupations that require repetitive actions that can leave lasting damage. Construction workers using jackhammers are one example, but even grocery and stock clerks, musicians, and healthcare workers can be affected.

For the most part, workers’ compensation claims are often equated with a single incident such as a slip and fall or a machinery malfunction that causes some type of injury. However, in our modern data- and digital-based workforce, many employees develop repetitive stress injuries (RSIs). These injuries are often associated with operating a computer, typing on its keyboard, and navigating with its mouse—as well as a variety of other actions that occur on the job.

If you feel that you are developing a repetitive stress injury at your place of work in or around Louisville or Lexington, Kentucky, you should report it to your employer as soon as possible to initiate a workers’ compensation claim. Additionally, consider contacting us at Slechter Law Firm, PLLC. As a husband-and-wife team of attorneys dedicated to helping clients with their workers’ compensation issues and personal injury claims, Mr. Slechter and Mrs. Slechter will listen to your story and help you move forward. Whether it’s through an initial claim or an appeal of denied benefits, you deserve to have your rights protected.

What Are Repetitive Stress Injuries?

RSIs go by different names such as repetitive strain injuries, overuse injuries, or cumulative trauma. The latter includes injuries that occur over time, such as hearing loss from being repeatedly exposed to loud noises.

In addition to carpel tunnel syndrome as mentioned above, other RSI conditions can include tendonitis, bursitis, trigger finger, rotator cuff syndrome, tennis elbow (epicondylitis), lower back pain, and more.

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RSI Symptoms

Symptoms may not appear immediately. You may not notice anything until weeks or months later—or perhaps longer, depending on the type of repetitive work you’re doing. An RSI can affect various parts of the body with symptoms including:

pain, ranging from tenderness and dull aches to throbbing or acute pains
tingling
numbness
loss of strength or coordination
reduced range of motion or flexibility

Jobs Most at Risk for RSI

The popular notion is that RSIs are isolated to people operating computers who end up with carpal tunnel syndrome or another related injury. While it is true that many employees spend a large part of their days working on data input and other digital tasks, other professions are equally susceptible to RSIs.

Anyone whose routine work-related tasks require repeated micro-movements, frequent lifting/carrying, using vibrating equipment, or having to assume an awkward posture, can develop an RSI. Occupations at risk for RSIs include:

nurses and health care aides
janitors and housekeeping cleaners
grocery and stock clerks
bus drivers
delivery workers
plumbers and pipefitters
agricultural and meat processing workers
firefighters
musicians
professional athletes

Can You File a Workers’ Compensation Claim for an RSI?

If you can show that your RSI developed from work that you were required to do as part of your job, then you should be able to file for workers’ compensation. But you can’t wait until your suffering is so painful that you can’t even come to work.

As soon as you suspect the onset of an RSI, you need to seek a medical evaluation and inform your employer of the results. Your physician may even order you to work fewer hours or even stay home for a while to begin rest and treatment.

Not only will you need to inform your employer of any new developments, but you will also need to assemble medical documentation to submit with your claim to show that your physician believes your condition resulted from your work. If you indeed do need time off for treatment or recovery, workers’ compensation insurance should pay for your medical expenses and two-thirds of your average weekly salary up to a state maximum.

If you do need to miss work, you can receive Temporary Total Disability (TTD) payments, but the payments won’t start until you’ve missed seven days of work. If you miss 15 or more days, then the first seven will be paid. Permanent Partial Disability and Permanent Total Disability are also available if you are unable to return to your former position or are so disabled you cannot perform any type of work.