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5 Workplace Injuries That Can Significantly Compromise Your Productivity and Health

Workplace injuries are so unexpected they often cause untold emotional and psychological trauma alongside the obvious physical pain. In addition to limiting your ability to earn a living, they can be expensive to treat and extremely life-altering, including causing ongoing pain. The good news is, work-related injury Colonia specialists are trained to address the aftereffects of a chronic work-related injury. They can help you find relief and live a good quality life with little to no pain. But what exactly constitutes a chronic work injury? Here is a closer look at five conditions you can suffer at work whose symptoms can linger long after the initial injury.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) affects the carpal tunnel – a narrow pathway in your wrist through which the median nerve travels to your fingers. It can be caused by repetitive hand movements, such as typing on a keyboard or using a mouse for extended periods. These movements exert pressure on the nerve, leading to symptoms such as pain, tingling, and weakness in the hand and wrist. If CTS is not treated, damage to the nerve can worsen and cause permanent dysfunction of the hand as well as loss of sensation in the fingers.

Arthritis (Wear and Tear)

Arthritis is a common condition that affects the joints, causing pain, stiffness, and swelling. In some cases, arthritis is caused by traumatic injury to a joint, such as when you hit your knee against a desk. However, this condition commonly results from wear and tear that happens over time. Repetitive motions at work wear out the joint, tendons, and ligaments, causing chronic pain, lack of balance (unsteadiness), and sometimes deformity.

Muscle Strain

Like wear and tear arthritis, muscle strain can occur when you perform repetitive physical tasks or engage in activities that cause overexertion. Such actions can cause your muscle fibers to stretch beyond their capacity, resulting in pain and discomfort. Also, poor posture, sudden or unexpected movements, and lifting heavy objects can exert excessive strain on the muscles. In severe cases that go untreated, muscle stains lead to atrophy and neurosis. You may experience numbness or pain that persists for a long time. You may also lose muscle function.

Lower Back Pain

Lower back pain can occur as a result of repetitive motions, improper postures, poor lifting techniques, and other work activities that strain your spine. These actions can overwork the muscles, ligaments, and nerves in your lower back, causing pain and discomfort. Additionally, working in environments with inadequate ergonomic support can also contribute to lower back pain. Chronic back pain can limit you from performing daily activities and can be so intense as to cause you to miss work. In fact, lower back pain is the leading cause of sick days in the US.

Knee Injuries

Roles that require prolonged standing, walking, lifting heavy objects, or bending can exert a significant amount of pressure on the knee joint, leading to wear and tear of the surrounding muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Sudden twisting or jerking movements can also cause knee injuries like sprains, strains, fractures, and dislocations. If left untreated, these injuries can lead to chronic knee pain, reduced mobility, and even disability.

Seek Medical Treatment for Workplace Injuries Today

Chronic job-related injuries have the ability to make your home life difficult and your work life unproductive. Even if you think your injury is minor, it is always advisable to seek medical help for a work-related injury. Seeing a doctor will not only help you build your compensation claim, it can also promote a much quicker and fuller recovery. If you recently got hurt at work or while performing work duties, contact a workplace injury doctor today for prompt treatment.

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Chiara Brunner