Are you at risk of developing bursitis?

Repetitive motion injuries are becoming much more common in the workplace across many industries. For instance, if you work in construction and are performing the same tasks every day, such as using a drill, you may begin to develop bursitis.

This is a repetitive motion injury that develops as inflammation or irritation in the bursa. This is a fluid-filled sac that is located between your bones, muscles, tendons and even skin that keeps these parts of your body lubricated so they move easily and without pain. When the bursa becomes inflamed, for instance from the constant impact of your drill, you may begin to feel pain in your wrist, arm and shoulder that will only get worse as you continue to use the drill.

While repetitive motions and minor impacts can often cause bursitis, age and other factors can also contribute to the risk of developing the condition. However, the most common cause of bursitis is overusing a joint. Usually, bursitis has a higher occurrence rate among people who are 40 or older. The areas you are most likely to experience bursitis are the elbow, shoulder, hip, knee and Achilles tendon.

Pain is the most common symptom people experience when they are suffering from bursitis. For some people, the pain may come on gradually and for others, it comes suddenly and can be severe. In addition to pain, you could experience immobility in the joint where bursitis is present.

If you have developed bursitis or another type of repetitive motion injury due to your job, there are treatments available. For example, resting the injured area, applying ice to it and taking an anti-inflammatory can help less severe cases. However, if you have seen a doctor and none of the prescribed treatments are working, you may need surgery to correct the injury.

As with other workplace injuries, you might be able to file for workers’ compensation benefits for a repetitive motion injury. You could be eligible for medical treatment, compensation for lost wages due to missing work and rehabilitation services. If you plan to file a workers’ compensation claim, be sure you do so within the required time limits so that you do not receive an automatic denial for filing late. Contact a Charlotte work injury attorney for help.