Skilled Representation from a Pennsylvania Repetitive Stress Injury Lawyer Helps Professionals Receive Full Disability Insurance Benefits
For many people, the injuries that have the greatest impact on functional ability are not those that occur in a traumatic accident; they are injuries that develop gradually over time because of overuse. Some studies indicate that well over half of all work injuries are repetitive stress injuries resulting from the cumulative impact of movements repeated day after day, year after year.
Simple tasks that appear to pose no risk of harm can lead to debilitating injuries when the human body repeats those tasks too often and for too long. Sometimes, the injuries can be repaired with surgery or other treatment. In other situations, the damage is permanent. But even when the injuries can be treated, they will quickly return and cause further damage if the repetitive motions are continued.
In other words, if you’re suffering intense pain, weakness, numbness or other symptoms of repetitive stress injuries, your only hope of recovery may require you to stop performing the activities that have been causing the injuries. For manyprofessionals, that means discontinuing key parts of their practice. It is just for times such as this that professionals purchase disability insurance.
But insurance companies can be very reluctant to pay benefits for injuries without a definitive inciting incident, which is why it is so helpful to work with a knowledgeable Pennsylvania repetitive stress injury lawyer when filing a claim for disability benefits. At Seltzer & Associates, we know how to satisfy insurance company requirements to help professionals secure the benefits they need and deserve when repetitive stress injuries prevent them from working.
Common Stress Injuries and How They Occur
Repetitive stress injuries occur so frequently that medical professionals use a shorthand term to refer to them. These injuries are known as “RSIs,” and they usually occur because muscles, tendons, nerves, or other tissues become damaged due to repeated overuse. For many professionals, the injuries do not begin to show symptoms until years of damage have accumulated. The parts of the body most frequently affected are connected with the arms—the hands, fingers, elbows, wrists, and shoulders. However, RSIs also commonly impact the knees and other joints.
When a professional repeatedly performs the same motions, the body does not receive sufficient time to recover from the strain. The damage builds over time and often does not start to cause pain or other discomfort until the condition has become very serious.
Some of the repetitive stress injuries most frequently diagnosed among professionals include:
- DeQuervain’s tenosynovitis resulting in inflammation of the covering over the tendons that control motion of the thumb. This condition affects grip and strength in the hand and arm.
- Tendinitis when repetitive motions tear or otherwise irritate tendons, leading to pain and reduced mobility
- Thoracic outlet syndrome, leading to neck and shoulder pain and numbness in fingers. This is frequently caused by typing while seated or standing in a stressful posture
- Carpal tunnel syndrome caused by consistent pressure on the medial nerve of the hand. This can be caused by a variety of repetitive hand motions and impacts the ability to control the thumb and first three fingers
- Stenosing tenosynovitis, when inflammation causes swelling in the flexor tendon and surrounding tissue, leading to stiffness in the thumb or other fingers
- Bursitis resulting in inflammation in the bursae of joints used or pressured repeatedly
Among professionals, dentists run a particularly high risk of developing RSIs due to constant gripping of tools, hunching over patients, and absorbing vibrations from dental tools. Professionals who work with computers are also frequently prone to RSIs.
When stress injuries are not treated, or the repetitive motions continue, the injuries can develop complications such as ganglion cysts, stress fractures, and nerve compression syndromes.
Treatment of Stress Injuries
Rest is the treatment most frequently prescribed for repetitive stress injuries. In this case, rest means limiting the use of the injured part of the body and discontinuing the activities that have caused the damage. Sometimes, immobilization and temperature therapy help speed healing.
For severe damage, or when injuries lead to nerve compression or tendon tears, surgery may be necessary to repair damage and relieve pressure. After surgery, physical and occupational therapy can sometimes allow the patient to engage in previous activities with new movement patterns. But often, it is necessary to limit activities to avoid a recurrence of the injuries.
For that reason, the impact on professional performance can be profound. Professionals suffering from RSIs often become unable to perform functions that are a key part of their practice, rendering them unable to support themselves and their families.
When that happens, a Pennsylvania repetitive stress injury lawyer at Seltzer & Associates works to ensure that professionals who are unable to work receive the resources they need through theirshort- and long-term disability insurance policies.
FAQs About Repetitive Stress Injuries and Disability Insurance Claims
Can a professional like a doctor or lawyer really qualify for disability benefits for an RSI?
While professionals in the medical, legal, and other fields are revered for their knowledge and experience, as a practical matter, they need to perform certain physical tasks to undertake professional duties. When RSIs prevent them from performing those tasks, then they should qualify to receive payments through their disability insurance policies. Insurance companies frequentlydeny these claims, so it takes perseverance and knowledge of policyholders’ legal rights to overcome the objections.
How is the “date of injury” determined if there was no accident?
Since it is not possible to pinpoint a single date of injury when an injury develops over time, the “date of injury” is often defined as the date the policyholder knew or should have known that the condition was affecting his or her work duties. The date of diagnosis could also be considered the date of injury. A Pennsylvania repetitive stress injury lawyer could review the policy requirements to determine the appropriate date to use under the circumstances.
Will filing a disability claim affect my professional standing or license?
Filing a claim does not itself affect a professional license or standing. However, when an RSI prevents a professional from practicing their profession with the required level of competence, then ethical rules generally require that professional to refrain from practicing. A skilled Pennsylvania repetitive stress injury lawyer can use this consideration to build an argument to help support a disability insurance claim.
Talk to Seltzer & Associates if a Repetitive Stress Injury is Interfering with Your Ability to Practice Your Profession
RSIs can impact professionals in surprisingly devastating ways.
Seltzer & Associates, we know the myriad ways that repetitive stress injuries can negatively impact the ability to practice a profession and how to demonstrate that professionals are eligible to receive disability benefits. For a free consultation to discuss how we could assist in your particular situation, call us at 888-699-4222 or contact us online at your convenience.