Many professional as well as avid amateur tennis players deal with inflammation and soreness in their elbow. This can be an issue that affects a person’s ligaments — straining them and causing significant pain. The inflammation can make it difficult for the person to move their elbow effectively. This is essentially an overuse injury that happens because tennis players are making the same swinging motion repeatedly.
You certainly do not have to be a tennis player to experience tennis elbow. In fact, most people are not. They are workers who have to make repetitive motions as part of their job, so they experience similar pain and discomfort.
Can you seek workers’ comp benefits?
Yes, a repetitive strain injury can be a reason to seek workers’ comp benefits. For instance, maybe the inflammation in your elbow is so bad that you are unable to do your job at all, so you need to take time to rest and let your body recover. During this time, you are missing a significant amount of wages, and you may be able to get some amount of compensation for lost wages.
In some cases, the injury could be so severe that you need direct medical intervention. You may have to meet with your doctor to get a diagnosis, settle on a treatment plan or even have surgery on your elbow, depending on the nature of the injury. Because it is a work-related injury, you may be able to get workers’ comp benefits to cover your medical bills.
Your legal options
Repetitive motion injuries can be debilitating, but they can also be more difficult to document than other types of injuries, such as a traumatic brain injury suffered in a fall. As such, it is very important for you to understand the process for seeking workers’ comp and how to appeal a denial if it happens. Having experienced legal guidance can help you get the compensation to which you’re entitled.