Any job that requires you to move your hand and wrist in a repetitive motion each day can cause injuries to your wrist or hands.

Often, we are not even aware that our hands are moving the same way each day as it is simply part of our job. A mechanic may twist wrenches in the same direction for several hours a day or a secretary may have her hand curled around her computer mouse all day long, working on documents.

No matter what the position is, it can lead to repetitive motion work injuries.

What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Your carpal tunnel is a space on the palm side of your wrist that connects your forearm to the center of your palm. It is formed by bones and connective tissue with several tendons and the median nerve passing through it. Because the carpal tunnel is narrow, when any of the tendons swell within it, the median nerve can be compressed or entrapped. When this happens, you may feel numbness, tingling, weakness or pain in your wrist.

Some people report pain in the elbow that feels almost like a toothache. Often, symptoms occur in the thumb, index finger, middle finger and a portion of the ring finger. The pinky finger is not usually affected because a different nerve sends feeling to the pinky.

Symptoms normally begin to appear at night. Although there are some medical conditions that may cause issues with the carpal tunnel, such as arthritis, diabetes and hypothyroidism, repetitive movement often leads to carpal tunnel work injury.

What is Cubital Tunnel Syndrome?

The cubital tunnel is a channel that allows the ulnar nerve to travel over the elbow. The ulnar nerve is what causes the tingling and numbness when you hit your elbow and is known as the “funny bone nerve.”

When the ulnar nerve is compressed, it can cause cubital tunnel syndrome, a condition that is often caused by repetitive movement. Symptoms include pain and numbness in the elbow as well as tingling in the ring and pinky finger. As the symptoms progress, you may experience weakness in the fingers, decreased ability to pinch the thumb and little finger, decreased hand grip, wasting hand muscles or a claw-like deformity of the hand.

In some cases, the condition can be caused by abnormal bone growth in the elbow or intense physical activity. Baseball pitchers have an increased risk of the condition due to the twisting motion necessary to throw certain types of pitches.

What Causes Repetitive Motion Injuries on the Job?

Repetitive motion work injuries are caused by moving the hand, wrist or arm in the same motion repeatedly as part of your job duties. In some cases, holding your hand in an awkward position can cause carpal tunnel syndrome while leaning your elbow on a table or desk for extended periods can lead to damage to the ulnar nerve.

Twisting your wrist, bending your elbow or curving your hand for long periods make you more likely to develop a carpal tunnel work injury or other types of repetitive movement injuries.

If you or a loved one worked in a job that required repetitive movement, you may be eligible for a claim for workers’ compensation for your carpal tunnel work injury or other type of injury related to repetitive movement.

Contact Lundy Law today to learn what rights you may have. Hiring an attorney does not mean you are suing your employer. An attorney will work with the insurance company and your employer to be sure you get the compensation you are eligible for under the law. Contact us by phone at 1-800-Lundy Law or complete our easy query form.