Degenerative Bone Disease and Workers’ Compensation Benefits

A person may be at risk of developing a degenerative bone disease because of the activities he or she performs in the workplace.

Constant wear and tear can lead to degeneration of the bones and joints. One way in which a person can relieve the stress on their joints is to maintain a healthy weight. However, a person may still be at risk of developing a degenerative bone disease such as osteoarthritis, because of the activities he/she performs in the workplace.

There are several work factors that can cause degenerative bone or joint diseases including:

• Lifting heavy weights
• Bending
• Repetitive motion or stress
• Climbing heights
• Loading and unloading
• Pre-existing injuries
• Reaching objects overhead
• Assembly line work
• Construction
• Constant sitting or standing

Degenerative joint disease, or osteoarthritis, involves the loss of cartilage and connective tissue that surrounds joints. Unlike other joint diseases such as arthritis and osteoporosis, osteoarthritis is degeneration as a result of high bone density linked to free radical damage. When a person suffers from osteoarthritis, the cartilage deteriorates over time.

Degenerative Joint Disease

As was just discussed, with degenerative joint disease the bone loses its soft tissue cushioning and protective cartilage, and due to this the joints loses their ability to move smoothly. Whenever a person tries to move, the bones rub against each other and cause further deterioration.

According to the statistics more than 20 million workers in United States suffer from degenerative bone and joint diseases. It severely affects a person’s ability to perform their work. The most common symptoms of degenerative bone diseases are as follows:

• Difficulty walking
• Constant and intense pain
• Stiff joints
• Fused joints
• Bone growths
• Grinding sensation
• Swelling
• Limited range of motion
• Tenderness
• Joint numbness
• Permanent joint deformity
• Weakness in the joints

Due to degeneration of the cartilage, the bone is forced to grow at the surface, and the patient has to often go for joint replacement surgery. It is extremely important that the injured worker seeks timely and appropriate treatment for the degenerative bone disease as any delay can lead to permanent damage and disability. If the person’s degenerative bone disease is cause or exacerbated by the work conditions, then he/she can seek benefits under Missouri Workers Compensation laws.

For a person who suffers from a degenerative bone disease as a result of the work he or she does, they are entitled to some workers’ compensation benefits. Some of the benefits a worker may be able to get may include:

• Loss of income
• Medical expenses
• Surgery expenses
• Prescription medication
• Cortisone injections
• Physical therapy
• Lump-sum settlement

Work Related Injuries