Reduce the Risk of RSI
To help prevent the possible occurrence of Repetitive Strain Injury, you need to be aware whether your job, work or occupation involves regular repeated actions so you can plan frequent breaks between repetitive tasks – at least every two hours. If you work in an office you need to make sure that you have a chair that you can adjust the height of so that your arms are parallel to the desk and floating just about your keyboard. Avoid bad posture and awkward positions of the body – particularly typing with two hands while cradling a telephone receiver between the ear and the shoulder. Your employer has a duty to inform you of possible risks under the auspices of Health and Safety regulations .
If an assessment has been carried out at your workplace or in your office, any possible risks should have been detailed in writing it may even be displayed on a staff notice board, for example. Some employers advise their employees of such risks and the best preventative action to take during initial induction or other staff training. If adequate safeguards have not been made available to you, then you may well be able claim compensation for Repetitive Strain Injury.
Talk to one of our solicitors to see if you have a claim. Call 0800 028 2060 or complete our claim form and we will call you back.
What Does RSI Feel Like?
RSI typically involves the hands, wrists and arms – or a combination of any of the upper limbs. Repetitive Strain Injury includes these feelings in the affected limb:
- Stiffness
- Tingling or Numbness
- Cramp
- Tenderness
Additionally, symptoms may include pain when trying to use the limb affected, leading to it becoming impaired, causing some sufferers to give up work.
How is Repetitive Strain Injury Diagnosed?
There is no single test for Repetitive Strain Injury and it is often diagnosed by your GP from your symptoms. Usually your RSIthe symptoms can go away if you have to give up work or the job that caused your RSI in the first place. Your Doctor will examine the limb that’s affected and will ask about your symptoms, medical history as well as any repetitive jobs you have at work. Your Doctor will be able to diagnose your RSI as either Type 1 RSI or Type 2 RSI. Type 1 RSI can be diagnosed from your symptoms and can be identified a medical condition such as nerve entrapment (carpal tunnel syndrome – CTS). If your Doctor cannot diagnose you for having Type 1 or an associated Type 1 condition (such as Carpal Tunnel), then you may require a blood test to rule out inflammatory joint diseases or osteoarthritis. If neither diagnosed, then you will be diagnosed with Type 2 RSI or diffuse RSI Over-use of one part of the body will have a cumulative effect over extended periods of time. The repeated action or actions can result in tiny tears in muscles, which in otherwise healthy individuals will typically heal relatively easily. However, repeated stress and stain will ultimately lead to a pulling of the associated muscle which will affect the limb , causing the discomfort and possible pain and consequent impairment of it.
Jobs Vulnerable to RSI
Repeated actions over a long period of time are the main cause of RSI. Factory workers, keyboard users and administration or computer programmers are just some examples of employees who are prone to these repeated actions at work. Office based jobs that require heavy use of a keyboard, input pad and/or mouse can cause RSI particularly if the duties include data entry , for example in administration or sales order processing, invoicing etc. This is particularly the case if these duties amount to a few hours a day and especially when the staff member is not able to take regular breaks to rest the affected limb or area.
Treatments And Cures
If recognised and treated early , RSI can be successfully managed. Treatment involves avoiding or reducing the cause of the problem and taking regular exercise including therapeutic stretches. Your doctor may prescribe Steroids that can be injected straight into the wrist to ease pressure on the nerve and give temporary relief for some severe. Your doctor also be able to suggest taking anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, aspirin, and other nonprescription pain relievers , to reduce the inflammation around the affected limb and relieve the symptoms for a short time.
Common Professions and Professions
Any job that has repeated actions over a long time can add to the risk of developing a Repetitive Strain Injury. Some jobs such as office or production line workers are known to be at particular risk. However some of the following jobs are also at risk of developing RSI:
- Food Pickers
- Supermarket Checkout
- Data Entry Administrators and programmers
- Factory workers
- Food Processing operatives
- Workers on Assembly lines
- Long Distance Lorry Drivers
- Machine Operators
- Painting and Decorators
- Sewing Machinists
- Manual Labourers
- Maunal labourers using vibration tools
- Packers & Couriers
Workers who’d otherwise have still had a lot to contribute to at work have sometimes unfortunately had little option other than to cease working, due to the disabling effects of RSI. If you think this may apply to you, then we recommend that you should consult your GP and contact Mercury Legal Online on 0800 028 2060
Claiming For Repetitive Strain Injuries
Suffering with Repetitive Strain Injury?
RSI can be debilitating and can prevent you from doing your job, performing everyday domestic tasks and enjoying your leisure activities and hobbies. Speak to one of our specialist RSI claims solicitors today and get the compensation you deserve for your injury.
Call 0800 028 2060 or fill in our call-back form today.
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