Repetitive Stress Injuries

Repetitive stress injuries typically occur in the wrist (carpal tunnel syndrome) or in the elbow (cubital tunnel syndrome). These injuries frequently occur when an employee is required to perform certain hand, wrist, elbow and arm activities in the workplace over a prolonged period of time. Many times this repetitive stress will cause the nerves in the wrist or elbow to become compressed causing significant pain, weakness, numbness and tingling. Often time, these conditions will require surgical intervention. To qualify for Illinois workers’ compensation benefits, it is necessary that the injured employee’s work duties were a causative factor in the development of their repetitive stress injury. It is not necessary that the work activities be the sole or main causative factor but only a causative factor. Accordingly, people who are predisposed to these types of injuries due to underlying medical conditions (diabetes, obesity, etc.) are not necessarily precluded from recovering workers’ compensation benefits.