California workers tend to strain their hands and wrists. This is often a result of falling into patterns of repetitive motion. If you repeat a motion often enough, it can lead to repetitive stress injuries (RSIs). One of the most well-known RSI is carpal tunnel syndrome.
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) impacts workers in a way that can be catastrophic. This injury is degenerative, meaning it will get worse over time without proper care. Unfortunately for workers, the primary method of care is through resting and stretching. Workers feel like they cannot take enough time off to rest. This leads to them exacerbating the injury. The worsened injury will take even longer to heal, and so it creates a vicious cycle.
In the worst CTS cases, patients often need surgery to fix the damage already done. The recovery time needed for this can set an employee back by weeks. Also, victims who have already suffered an RSI are more susceptible to them. They can end up with more damage in the future.
Needless to say, missing a paycheck for that long is often not an option. This is why some seek workers’ compensation. They would not be dealing with this if their work environment was more informed about RSIs. Many places of employment do not advocate for proper rest and stretching breaks. This contributes to the problem.
Do you wish to keep reading about workplace injuries? Do you have a vested interest in RSIs or CTS? Are you curious about workers’ compensation and how it works? You can follow the link here to our web page to expand your knowledge.