If you have ever been a server or worked long hours at a computer, your boss may have given you ways to combat carpal tunnel syndrome so you don’t get hurt. Tendonitis and carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common form of repetitive strain injuries, or RSIs. These types of injuries are common with blue-collar workers that constantly use the same motion or tasks during their workday. In addition to waiters and desk job employees, it is common for those who work on an assembly line to get RSIs because they are doing the exact same movement for long periods at a time. If you think you have suffered or are suffering from a repetitive strain injury, here are some symptoms you should look for, ways to seek compensation for your injury, and how Pratt Law Corporation will help to your case. Confine in our attorneys in Long Beach, California, for seeking compensation for your injury.

Repetitive Strain Injuries in Long Beach: The Basics

Common Symptoms & Diagnosis

RSIs can affect nerves, joints, tendons, or muscles. If you have a job that requires constant, forced movements, watch out for symptoms such as:

  • Loss of strength or coordination
  • Numbness or tingling
  • Reduced flexibility
  • Pain, from small aches to more significant pain.

In addition to tendonitis and carpal tunnel syndrome, you may find yourself with one of these diagnoses:

  • Bursitis (affects your joints)
  • Trigger finger (which isn’t limited to your thumb and index fingers)
  • Rotator cuff syndrome (resulting in limited and painful shoulder movement)
  • Epicondylitis (more commonly known as tennis elbow)

Permanent Injury

Depending on your injury, it may result in permanent effects that can significantly change the way you work in the future. Examples of permanent RSIs are numbness or complete loss of feeling, a reduced range of motion or a complete loss of strength. If you have consulted a doctor and they don’t think you will recover fully, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. Because a permanent injury will affect the way you work for the rest of your life, you could receive reimbursement for a loss of wages and/or compensation for your bills for future physical or occupational therapy. If you live in Los Angeles, Riverside, or Ventura County, we can be the attorneys that pursue compensation for you, so you can concentrate on healing.

Temporary Injury

California is one of the few states in the country that requires almost all employers to participate in the state’s insurance program that benefits employees who may be injured on the job, known as Workers’ Compensation. You should receive payment for the amount of time you will be away from work. If you believe that your employer should award you these benefits but they haven’t, call our office today. You should fight for your rights as an employee by filing for workers’ compensation. Our personal injury and workers’ compensation attorneys have the experience that will give you an upper hand when fighting for the reimbursement that you deserve.

How Long do RSI Injuries Take to Heal?

Depending on the severity of your repetitive strain injury, recovery may take anywhere from two weeks to over a year. While you are healing, it is important to follow your doctor and physical therapist’s advice when it comes to limiting how much you use your arm, wrist, leg, or whatever you have injured. Your top priority should be getting better so you can get back to work because focusing on the legal aspect of your accident can delay your recovery. If you want to make sure you are given the greatest amount of possibilities for your situation, call our office in Long Beach, California, today. Our team of knowledgeable attorneys will work hard to fight for your chance to receive compensation from the employer that caused you hurt. Call our office today to schedule a consultation.