When working, you risk facing an assortment of injuries. One of the most common types are repetitive stress injuries. These come from many different sources and can vary in intensity.
But can they impact you on a big scale? Can they even affect your ability to work? And if so, is there anything you can do about it?
What causes RSIs?
Healthline discusses repetitive strain injuries, including what causes them and the impact they have on your health. These injuries, also called RSIs, impact a variety of workers. They stem from repetitive motion at the workplace. In other words, almost any worker can develop them.
Some examples include a cashier checking out items, a receptionist using the computer and an auto mechanic working with tools. When you repeat these actions every day, the muscles may swell in the affected area. This can lead to nerves getting pinched, which can cause permanent or semi-permanent damage. You can even irritate blood vessels and other soft tissue in the area.
How does it impact your life?
Unfortunately, it can affect your ability to maintain work. RSIs last anywhere from weeks to months or even years. The intensity varies, too. On top of that, the only way to recover is by resting according to a doctor’s recommendation. In many cases, they require too many days of rest. Sufferers often cannot afford to miss work that long. It causes them to return earlier than they should. This exacerbates the injury and worsens it. It creates a vicious cycle where you cannot heal properly.
This is why many RSI victims seek compensation due to overworking or not having enough paid leave. This helps make up the financial gap and allows you to focus on recovery.
