Whether you work in an office, a restaurant or a factory, you have to perform certain physical functions to do your job every day. The longer you keep working in the same industry, the more likely it is that your job responsibilities will eventually damage your body.
Constantly needing to twist, bend, grip or lift will cause small amounts of trauma. Spread out over many years, your minor discomfort from work could turn into serious pain and functional limitations. Can you count on workers’ compensation if doing the same job has become painful?
Pain from repetitive use may qualify you for benefits
If you have shooting pains in your forearms when you type or spasms in your back when you move items from one surface to another, that pain will affect your job performance. It is also a warning sign that there is something wrong with your body.
As it gets worse, the likelihood that you have a significant underlying condition, like carpal tunnel syndrome, increases. Those with repetitive stress injuries related to their work can potentially claim workers’ compensation.
How does workers’ compensation help?
The first and most obvious way that workers’ compensation helps if it hurts to do your job is by covering the cost of medical care. You can receive treatments ranging from surgery and pain medication to physical therapy without needing to pay a deductible or cover co-insurance costs.
Unfortunately, continuous trauma is often difficult to reverse. You may have lasting symptoms even after going through treatment. That means you may require job change. Workers’ compensation can help you by providing you with permanent, partial disability benefits if you don’t earn as much as you did before your diagnosis. Learning about how workers’ compensation can open up more options for your future.