Workers’ Compensation Injuries – Tendonitis

Tendonitis is an inflammation of a tendon. It may be covered under Workers’ Compensation.

workers-comp-lawyerTendons connect muscle and bone together. They are thick pieces of tissue and can usually withstand a significant amount of tension and pressure. But when tendons become damaged, irritated, or inflamed, it can be very painful and can require medical treatment. Stressed or damaged tendons can lead to a variety of medical conditions that can make it very difficult for a person to perform work-related tasks. If you sustain an injury to a tendon while at work you should notify your employer as soon as possible and seek medical attention. Continuing to work will further stress the tendon and can cause the condition to worsen and become even more painful.

If a doctor diagnoses you with tendonitis (tendinitis) or another condition relating to tendon inflammation or damage, you can file a workers’ compensation claim to recover compensation for wage loss and medical expenses.

It is important to protect against conditions like tendonitis, tenosynovitis, and De Quervain’s Disease, which are all common conditions relating to tendon stress or damage, by implementing the necessary safety and precautionary systems at work. Individuals can do their best not to put undue stress on their joints and tendons by using safe lifting techniques and practicing proper posture, but employers should also be aware of the risks affecting workers and work to mitigate and manage these risks in order to minimize the possibility of employee injuries.

Tendonitis can be very painful and can have long-lasting effects. Treatment can include surgery, physical therapy, pain medication, and splinting, among other things. This can have a great affect on how an employee is able to perform his or her job, if he or she is able to continue working at all. It is very important that employers protect employees against these conditions that can be life-altering.

Tendon injuries are oftentimes the result of repetitive trauma or stress injuries. Repetitive stress injuries are injuries that build over time, rather than being caused by a single traumatic incident like a major fall or blow. Instead, employees who must repeat certain motions or movements as a part of their routine are at risk for developing injuries that build over time, increasing in severity as the movement and pain persists.

Who is at risk?

Tendon injuries commonly affect wrists, arms, fingers, and legs, but can include other parts of the body as well. Nurses and nursing home employees, assembly line workers, construction workers, and office and clerical workers, are at high risk of developing repetitive stress injuries because the tasks they are called on to do on a daily basis are conducive to cumulative trauma. Lifting, bending, keyboarding, and using vibrating tools, put workers at risk of developing these types of injuries.

Missouri Workers’ Compensation Attorney

In order to receive workers’ compensation benefits, an injured worker must prove that the injury was work-related. If an injury claim is denied or if you are unable to get the full benefits you deserve, you should contact a workers’ compensation attorney immediately. Proving that your repetitive trauma/tendon injury is caused by a work-related situation can be tricky, but not impossible. Having an experienced workers’ compensation attorney on your side can help you to quickly prove that your condition arose out of your job so that you can get your benefits as soon as possible.

Call the Law Office of Jame M. Hoffmann to schedule a private consultation.

Work Related Injuries

photo credit: susie.c

Updated: April 7, 2020