Bursitis may be covered under Workers’ Compensation.
Bursitis is a painful condition that develops when the bursa, a lubricating sac located between joints, tendons, muscles, and even skin, becomes inflamed. When the bursa becomes inflamed or irritated, it can cause swelling and pain in the area. The bursal sac reduces friction by lubricating areas between joints, muscles, and tendons. As you can imagine, when the sac is inflamed, this can be very painful.
Causes of Bursitis
Bursitis can come about in a number of ways. A person can develop bursitis as the result of an injury or trauma that happens suddenly, a minor impact, or repetitive motions. As is the case with many conditions, age can play a factor in developing bursitis. As a person ages, bones and tendons age as well, becoming less resilient, making them more susceptible to tears and injuries.
One of the most common ways that bursitis develops is overuse. Overuse can happen at home or at work. Activities like carpentry, shoveling, gardening, painting, and hobbies like tennis, golf, skiing, throwing, etc., are all associated with an increased risk of developing bursitis. At work, repetitive motions and incorrect posture can increase the risk of workers developing conditions like bursitis.
Bursitis Treatment
Treatment for bursitis can include rest, anti-inflammatory pain medication, steroid injections, physical therapy, splinting, and applications of heat and cold. It is important to seek treatment as soon as possible. You should not ignore the condition and continue working because you can seriously worsen the condition by continuing to stress the injured area.
Workers’ Compensation for Bursitis
The workers’ compensation system is supposed to provide benefits for injured workers and protect employers from being taken to civil court. An injured worker is entitled to medical care that is paid for by workers’ comp, and lost wages. Even after an employee is able to return to work, ongoing medical treatment should still be covered under workers’ comp. However, workers’ comp insurance does not provide benefits relating to pain and suffering.
In order to make a successful claim and receive full workers’ compensation benefits, you must prove that the injury occurred on the job, or that the injury arose from the conditions of your job. This includes traumatic accidents and injuries that develop over time. Regardless of whose fault the injury is, you should be covered.
Not all workers’ compensation claims are dramatic and result from a single, major traumatic accident. Repetitive injuries can be just as severe and just as painful, requiring time and rest to heal from. It is important in these instances to get workers’ compensation benefits so that you can receive the proper medical treatment and are allowed sufficient time to rest and recover so you can return to work.
St. Louis Workers’ Compensation Attorneys
In some cases, consulting with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney may be a good option. If you have a pre-existing condition or if your employer’s insurance company thinks they can blame your bursitis on age, getting the compensation you deserve can be difficult. But age and a preexisting condition does not disqualify you from receiving workers’ compensation benefits. Discussing your case with a workers’ compensation attorney in your area can help you to develop an effective plan that will maximize your chances of getting the full benefits to which you are entitled.
At the Law Office of James M. Hoffmann we have a proven track record of assisting injured Missouri workers receive the compensation they are entitled to.
Any injury can be stressful and expensive to treat, and can take you away from your job for long periods of time. Getting medical care as soon as possible will hopefully help you to heal quickly and get back to work as soon as possible.
Fill out our online contact form or call us at (314) 361-4300 to schedule your free consultation.
Work Related Injuries
photo credit: WarmSleepy via Flickr
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