In California, the number of cumulative trauma disorder claims is accumulating. The state is an industrialized area with millions of workers employed in various industries. Most jobs are demanding and require prolonged periods of doing the same tasks over and over again, which could lead to cumulative trauma disorder (CTD). Warehouse and construction workers are most prone to developing CTD because of repetitive tasks and the use of vibrating tools, respectively. If you’re a worker in California and believed that you have developed CTD over time, seek medical attention immediately. The disorder or injury that you suffer must be totally covered by the workers’ compensation benefits. Talk to a professional workers’ compensation Los Angeles attorney to help you file a claim for your work-related injury.
Workers’ Compensation Los Angeles Attorney: What is Cumulative Trauma Disorder?
A cumulative trauma disorder is generally a workplace injury due to repetitive activity that manifests over a period of time. Since these injuries didn’t occur in a specific accident, they can be harder to prove than a specific injury, which happens unexpectedly in a single event or accident.
CTDs get gradually worse as time goes by and the impairment that it causes and the pain that it makes build up constantly. It can take longer for a sufferer to know that he has developed the condition.
The primary surge of the disorder may take months before the affected worker feels the symptoms. It can take more months for the victim to feel more severe pain and even years to develop impairment.
Even so, cumulative disorders that transpire due to the victim’s duties at work still allow the worker to receive workers’ compensation benefits. However, it’s much harder to prove than specific injuries. As a victim, you might also encounter troubles in filing a claim before the statute of limitations expires. To ensure that you’re filing within the allowed time frame, speak with a knowledgeable workers’ compensation Los Angeles attorney.
Main Reasons Why Cumulative Trauma Disorders Occur in the Workplace
Cumulative trauma disorders usually occur in the workplace. Main reasons why such injuries occur include:
- Recurrent movements that make the exact motion over and over again
- Actions that necessitate force, such as pushing, pulling, gripping, and lifting
- Remaining in the same body position for prolonged periods without resting or moving
- Swift body parts movements like swinging of the arms
- Psychological stress can also make muscles tighten and limit blood flow
- Unusual and improper posture or body resting position
- Applied compression on the hand’s soft tissues from tools that press against the palm
- Use of vibrating tools such as a jackhammer or hand mixer
- Insufficient recovery time with overwork like rest breaks or day-offs could raise other CTD risk factors
Types of Cumulative Trauma Disorders
Basically, a CTD is significant wear and tear of tendons and muscles. It also affects sensitive nerve tissue caused by persistent use for longer periods than usual.
Tendon Disorders
Tendons are threadlike tissues, connecting muscles to the bones. Disorders associated with tendons and their protective coverings (synovial sheaths) are some of the most common CTDs.
Examples of tendon disorders include:
- Tenosynovitis
- Stenosing tenosynovitis
- de Quervain’s tenosynovitis
- Rotator cuff tendonitis
- Ganglionic cysts
- Trigger finger
- Tennis elbow
- Golfer’s elbow
- Bursitis
Nerve Disorders
This injury occurs when repeated activities weigh on the nerves that press against the hard edges of tools. Examples of nerve disorders include:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS)
- Raynaud’s syndrome or hand-arm vibration syndrome
- Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS)
- Cubital tunnel syndrome
- Radial tunnel syndrome
- Pronator teres syndrome
How to Prove Your Cumulative Trauma Disorder is Work-Related?
Do you start feeling pain and think that there’s something wrong with your body? Maybe it’s about time that you see a doctor for a check-up. You might not be aware that you have already developed CTD because of repetitive tasks or recurrent motions, such as long hours of typing on a keyboard or laptop.
It’s crucial that you seek medical treatment from doctors who are acquainted with common work injuries. Additionally, they can provide a logical understanding of how a CTD might have happened.
Get the Compensation You Deserve. Contact ODG Law Today.
Before you can get the benefits of workers’ compensation, you need to go through a lot of legal procedures. Besides, doing it all alone, especially if you don’t have knowledge of the law, enables the insurance company to take advantage of your situation. They will have their own lawyers to contest your claim, and so should you.
Our compassionate and expert workers’ compensation attorneys at the ODG Law will protect and defend your rights. We prioritize your fast recovery that’s why we work harder, handle your case more efficiently and maximize your compensation.
Schedule a free consultation with ODG Law. We work on a contingency fee basis. Call (818) 975-3080 today or email us for any queries. Let’s win your case.
