Millions of workers nationwide suffer occupational injuries every year, many of them live in Kansas. If you suffer the consequences of an on-the-job injury, you might face mounting medical bills, lost work time, and permanent or temporary disability. Workplace injuries can follow slip-and-fall accidents, electrocution, vehicle collisions, caught-in or between objects, struck-by accidents or one of many other hazards.
However, you might be a victim of one of those hidden injuries that are invisible for others to see, although they can cause extreme pain. Regardless of your occupation, you could suffer one of these injuries that might be either a musculoskeletal or a repetitive motion injury.
Examples of hidden injuries
There is a vast variety of occupational injuries, and if you spend your working days at a desk in an office or moving heavy or awkward objects in a warehouse or fulfillment center, you are a perfect candidate for one of the following types of injuries:
- Neck and back pain: Auto accidents, repetitive motions, improper equipment and other injuries can cause chronic pain in the back and neck. This is the most prevalent occupational injury across all industries.
- Thoracic outlet syndrome: If you flex your shoulders, carry loads on them, and extend your arms above your shoulders for extended periods, you might develop swelling and suffer dull aches and pain along with a burning sensation and weakness in the damaged area.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome: Various occupations can cause this injury, and if your job involves repetitive motion or the use of vibratory tools, you might be a victim. Signs of wasting muscles at the base of the thumb along with burning, tingling, numbness and pain can indicate this syndrome.
- Tendonitis/tenosynovitis: If your job requires you to sustain hyperextension of tendons, make repetitive motions, and overload and overuse tendons for prolonged periods, your hands may become swollen, numb and painful.
- De Quervain’s disease: Pain at the base of your thumb might be a sign of this disease, which results from repetitive twisting of the hand and forceful gripping.
- Elbow tendonitis (Epicondylitis): Repeated forceful rotation of the forearm and simultaneous bending of the wrist can lead to swelling in the elbow along with burning pain or a dull ache and a feeling of weakness.
These injuries can start as minor annoyances and develop into chronic pain and significant damage that could even result in permanent or temporary disability. Because they are not apparent for others to see, you may receive little or no sympathy from your employer, and proving that your job caused your injury might be challenging. However, costly medical treatment, such as extensive physical therapy, surgery or other intensive treatment, might be necessary, at high costs.
The Kansas workers’ compensation insurance program might cover your medical expenses and lost wages if you can show that your injury is work-related. Experienced legal counsel is available to help in your pursuit of the compensation to which you are entitled.