Workers’ Comp for Repetitive Stress Injuries
Not every workplace injury happens in an instant. For many Ohio workers, the real damage comes slowly, day after day, through repetitive motions that strain muscles, joints, and tendons. These are known as repetitive stress injuries (RSIs) or repetitive motion injuries, and they are among the most common reasons workers file for compensation in Columbus.
Although the term “repetitive stress injury” may conjure up thoughts about carpal tunnel syndrome, doctors and occupational therapists know that anyone whose work involves repeated movements can end up with chronic repetitive stress problems.
RSI typically involves musculoskeletal pain, affecting ligaments, tendons, spinal discs, nerves and muscles. Symptoms can include stiff swollen joints, acute back pain, muscle aches, numbness, tingling, carpal tunnel syndrome, wrist tendonitis and what is commonly called “tennis elbow”.
This occupational disease effects workers from numerous professions can develop over time:
- Computer keyboarding/mouse
- Restaurant line cook
- House cleaning/Maid service
- Landscaping
- Digging, road work and underground projects
- Nurses lifting patients
- Warehouse/store inventory stocking
- Power tools
- Driving a company car, van, bus or train
- Heavy machinery operation
- Moving & stacking boxes
What Are Repetitive Stress Injuries?
Repetitive stress injuries develop when the same movement is performed again and again, eventually causing tissue damage. Unlike accidents that cause immediate harm, RSIs can be harder to prove because the pain builds gradually. Common work-related repetitive stress injuries include:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome – common among office workers, healthcare staff, and assembly line employees.
- Tendonitis – inflammation from repetitive lifting, reaching, or gripping.
- Bursitis – joint pain from overuse.
- Epicondylitis (tennis elbow) – often seen in construction, factory, and food service workers.
- Back and neck strain – from repetitive bending, twisting, or standing for long periods.
If your job requires constant typing, lifting, scanning, gripping tools, or using machinery, you may already be at risk.
Can You Get Workers’ Comp for Repetitive Stress Injuries in Ohio?
Yes. Ohio workers’ compensation covers repetitive motion injuries as long as they are directly tied to your job duties. However, employers and insurance companies often challenge these claims, arguing that the condition developed outside of work or is due to aging.
This is where having a Columbus repetitive stress injury lawyer can make the difference. I’ll help you:
- Gather the right medical evidence to prove your injury is work-related.
- File your claim correctly and on time with the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC).
- Handle pushback from employers or insurers who try to deny or limit your benefits.
- Secure access to approved doctors, physical therapy, and necessary treatments.
What Benefits Can You Receive for a Repetitive Stress Injury?
If your claim is approved, workers’ comp may provide:
- Medical care – including surgery, therapy, and medication.
- Wage replacement – temporary total disability if you can’t work, or partial benefits if you must take a lower-paying job.
- Permanent partial disability (PPD) – compensation if your RSI leaves lasting limitations.
- Vocational rehabilitation – retraining if you can’t return to your previous job.
Get Help from a Columbus Repetitive Stress Injury Lawyer
Repetitive stress injuries can leave you in constant pain and unable to work, but you don’t have to face the workers’ comp system alone. I’ll personally handle your case from start to finish, making sure your rights are protected and your claim gets the attention it deserves.
📞 Call me today at (614) 486-3249 for a free consultation. You pay nothing unless we win your case.