Soft tissue injuries are some of the most common with workers’ compensation. Stress, overexertion, and repetitive motions can injure muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Workers can feel sharp pain and experience swelling after suffering an on-the-job injury.
Contact our law firm to discuss whether you can submit a claim for a soft tissue injury. AVermont workers’ compensation lawyer at Larson & Gallivan Law can meet for a free consultation to discuss how you were hurt. Below, we highlight the most common soft tissue injuries and what you need to prove to obtain workers’ comp benefits.
Common Workplace-Related Soft Tissue Injuries
Workers in all sorts of industries can suffer a painful soft tissue injury, including the following.
Back Sprain
It is easy to sprain your back when lifting heavy objects. Other actions, such as twisting or turning can also cause a worker to “wrench” their back. A sprain affects the ligaments in the back, particularly ligaments around the spine.
The pain is so intense that many people cannot even work sedentary jobs after a back sprain. The most effective treatment is rest and managing inflammation.
Back Strain
This back injury affects the tendons and muscles in the back. Overexertion is a common reason for a back strain. Continuing to move as much as you are able, including walking, are critical for a strain, which is just as disabling as a sprain.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
This is a common wrist injury. Inflamed tendons or muscles can press on a nerve running through the center of the wrist. The most common symptoms include:
- Tingling or numbness in the fingers
- Hand weakness
- Weak grip
- Burning or electrical shock sensations
- Wrist pain
Often, workers suffer this injury because of repetitive movements. Over time, these movements lead to inflammation and compression on the median nerve. You might need surgery to release the compression. This is a common injury for people working data entry or at a computer, as well as those who work on an assembly line.
Bursitis
Bursae are fluid-filled sacs which help the joints move smoothly. But the bursae can become inflamed, often from overexertion. You can experience pain in any joint, but bursitis is common in your knees, shoulder, or hip. The most effective treatment is rest to allow the bursae to return to normal.
Neck Pain
A worker can suffer neck pain while hunched over a computer. Over time, the pain might be unmanageable with painkillers. It is critical to regularly stretch, especially the neck muscles, when sitting at a computer for hours.
ACL Tear
The anterior cruciate ligament is located in the knee and helps keep the bones connected to each other. This ligament can be stretched or torn, often after a worker wrenches their leg. This is often described as one of the most painful injuries. Typically, workers need surgery to repair the ligament and physical therapy or bracing to provide support for the leg.
Contusion
A contusion is a deep bruise which a worker can suffer from a traumatic accident, such as a “struck-by” accident. A person struck by a moving vehicle or piece of machinery can suffer a deep bruise.
Although a bruise might be tender, it should heal on its own. The main complication is that blood pooling to the area could create so much pressure that it cuts off circulation to the affected body part. For that reason, you should go to the hospital quickly.
Do You Qualify for Workers’ Compensation in Vermont?
Yes, you should qualify if you were hurt while working. That’s the simple test. If you are injured in the ordinary course of your job, then you will qualify for workers’ compensation in most cases.
Someone with a soft tissue injury should receive medical care, free of charge. This care can include prescription medication, injections to reduce inflammation, and possibly even surgery, if your condition warrants it.
You might also receive temporary disability benefits. The most serious soft-tissue injuries usually require at least some time off to recover. Many workers need a few weeks to allow their muscles and ligaments to heal. Without rest, you might only make a repetitive-motion injury worse.
What is the Main Challenge with this Type of Claim?
Sometimes injured workers see their claim rejected because an insurer does not believe they are really hurt. If you broke a leg in an explosion at work, then an insurer would likely believe you are hurt. You can present an X-ray showing the broken bone.
But soft tissue injuries are often treated skeptically because there is a lack of visible evidence of the injury. These injuries often do not show up on X-rays or MRIs. For example, the insurer might not think you are really hurt from overexertion or repetitive motions, so they deny your workers’ comp claim.
Even if an insurer approves a claim, they might pressure you to get back to work too soon. They might offer light duty work and demand you return at least part time. If a doctor says you can work part time, you can lose benefits if you do not comply, so call our workers’ comp lawyer for help.
What to Do After Suffering a Soft Tissue Injury
Workers should treat these like any other workplace injury. You can protect your rights by:
- Report the accident to your supervisor. Avoid any delay. You typically need to report within six months, but we recommend doing so as quickly as you can.
- Receive medical care. Remember to keep copies of your medical records, including prescription medication.
- Document your condition. Hold onto medical records. You should also reconstruct when you first felt pain. Often, soft-tissue injuries build over weeks and months.
- Speak with an experienced lawyer. A lawyer can provide other tips for how to strengthen your workers’ compensation claim.
- File a claim. Your employer should start the claim by filing a First Report of Injury. You may also need to fill out forms. You should receive a decision within 21 days.
- Appeal a denial. If your initial claim is denied, you have the right to an appeal.
Connect with a Vermont Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
Larson & Gallivan Law can help anyone who was hurt while working. No injury is too small; contact us to learn more about whether you qualify for workers’ compensation in Vermont.
