What to Do if You Think Your New Injury Is Because of Your Job
The signs of a workplace injury can sometimes show up at home. Maybe whenever you reach over with your left arm, you feel a stinging pain in your elbow. You could also have lower back pain or discomfort in your knees when you bend.
Those injuries or uncomfortable symptoms may not just be a sign of the slow progress of aging but rather of heavy use of your body on the job. People in professions ranging from secretaries to factory line workers can develop injuries slowly because of their job responsibilities.
Medical conditions that result from frequent, small traumas qualify workers for workers’ compensation benefits just like dramatic injuries from a sudden accident do.
Repetitive Tasks Can Cause Strain on Your Body
After a few years of doing the same work, your tasks may not fatigue you anymore. You probably have the stamina and strength to complete your work every day easily after just a few weeks on the job.
No amount of endurance or strength can prevent you from developing a repetitive motion injury. Recognizing the fact that your job is hurting your body doesn’t make you weak or a bad worker. Instead, it puts you in a position where you can get treatment and hopefully continue working.
Tell Your Supervisor at Work About Your Suspected Injury
Reporting a job-related injury to the appropriate parties at work is a key step in the process of getting benefits. You must alert your employer about the injury as soon as possible. Ideally, that will allow you to file a workers’ compensation claim and have coverage from the very first appointment.
If Your Employer Denies It or Won’t Report It, See a Physician
In some cases, the person that you report to at your company might refuse to acknowledge your injury. They might claim you suffered it on your personal time or question whether you actually have an injury or not.
As soon as it becomes obvious your employer will not work with you, you will likely need to see a doctor of your own. That doctor can diagnose you with a condition. From there, it will be possible to build a case for that condition developing because of your employment.
Medical records and evidence, as well as statements from co-workers, can help demonstrate how the work you do caused the injury you currently have.