If you start to feel tingling, stiffness, or strange aches that weren’t there before, don’t brush them off.
Repetitive injuries—also known as repetitive strain injuries (RSIs)—often develop slowly, making it easy to overlook the warning signs until they disrupt your ability to work or perform daily tasks. But catching these symptoms early can make all the difference in preventing long-term damage and ensuring your legal rights are protected if the injury is work-related.
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Who’s Most at Risk for Repetitive Strain Injuries?
Missouri workers in office jobs, warehouses, healthcare, manufacturing, and construction are especially at risk. These injuries often stem from tasks performed repeatedly without enough rest, such as typing, lifting, using vibrating tools, or working on an assembly line. While the pain may start off mild, it can evolve into permanent loss of function if left unaddressed.
Here are five early signs of repetitive strain injuries you should never ignore:
1. Tingling or Numbness in the Hands or Fingers
If your fingers “fall asleep” during or after work, or you feel tingling sensations like pins and needles, it may be more than just poor circulation. These symptoms are common in conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome, where repetitive motions compress the median nerve in the wrist.
This nerve compression often affects workers who use keyboards, hand tools, or scanning equipment daily. While you might think a slight numbness is no big deal, ignoring it can lead to loss of grip strength and chronic pain.
2. Unexplained Aches in the Wrists, Elbows, or Shoulders
Persistent soreness in joints that bear the brunt of your work, like your wrists, elbows, or shoulders, is often a sign that repetitive strain is taking its toll. This discomfort may feel like a dull ache that flares up during or after your shift, especially when performing the same task repeatedly.
Tendonitis and bursitis are common diagnoses for workers experiencing this type of pain, especially in jobs requiring repetitive lifting, reaching, or vibration-heavy tools. Pain in these areas shouldn’t be normalized or pushed through—early treatment and reporting are key.
3. Decreased Range of Motion or Stiffness
Are you struggling to fully bend your wrist, move your arm, or turn your neck without discomfort? That stiffness may indicate inflammation or soft tissue damage. These limitations often develop gradually, so many workers ignore them until they can no longer perform their duties effectively.
Injury types like rotator cuff strain, trigger finger, and cervical strain can all begin this way. Injured workers must recognize and document this decline early, even if the pain isn’t severe.
4. Weakness or Loss of Grip Strength
Noticing that everyday tasks—opening jars, lifting small boxes, gripping a steering wheel—feel harder than they used to? Loss of strength or coordination in your hands, wrists, or arms can be a red flag.
This is often an early symptom of nerve involvement, especially in carpal tunnel or cubital tunnel syndrome. Workers in industries like logistics, janitorial services, or healthcare may notice this weakness first during routine lifting or cleaning tasks. It’s important not to attribute this change to simply “getting older”—it could be your body’s way of signaling damage from repetitive work.
5. Pain That Worsens During or After Work Hours
If you feel relatively fine when you wake up but experience increasing discomfort as the day goes on, that’s a pattern worth noting. Many repetitive injuries escalate with continued use of the affected area. For example, a warehouse worker may feel pain in their elbow by mid-shift, or an office worker may develop wrist or forearm pain after hours of typing.
Pay close attention to pain that seems to be tied to specific job functions or tools—these patterns often point directly to a work-related repetitive motion injury.
Why Reporting Early Signs Matters
Many injured workers wait too long before seeking medical attention or notifying their employer, often because the symptoms seem minor or come and go. However, workers’ compensation claims can become more complicated in Missouri the longer an injury goes unreported.
Repetitive strain injuries don’t usually stem from a single accident, so employers and insurance companies may try to deny or downplay your claim. Early medical and legal documentation can be critical in protecting your rights.
At the Law Office of James M. Hoffmann, we’ve helped hundreds of Missouri workers with carpal tunnel, tendonitis, and other cumulative trauma injuries navigate the workers’ comp system. These cases can be challenging to prove without aggressive legal representation and a clear connection between your job duties and symptoms.
If You’re Noticing These Signs, Take Action
You don’t have to wait until your injury forces you to stop working to take it seriously. Even if you’re unsure whether your symptoms are work-related, it’s worth evaluating them and understanding your rights under Missouri workers’ compensation law.
If you’re facing resistance from your employer, dealing with denied claims, or unsure how to move forward, contact the Law Office of James M. Hoffmann today. With over $100,000,000 collected for injured Missouri workers, we fight to ensure you receive the medical care and wage benefits you deserve.

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