Workplace injuries can have a devastating effect on an employee. The injured worker can suddenly find themselves forced to take time off from the job which can then lead to lost wages and potentially even applying for workers’ compensation. And, while there are many different types of injuries that a worker can suffer while on the job, a far too common work injury faced by many employees is a pinched nerve.
A pinched nerve can happen while on the job or even while at home. It occurs when a nerve or a group of nerves are compressed or constricted by a bone. A pinched nerve can develop in many different areas of the body, but is very common in the lower back, legs, neck and the wrist. When a pinched nerve occurs in the wrist, it can be known as carpal tunnel syndrome.
The most common reasons that a pinched nerve develops is due to over work and repetitive use. This recurring use can occur due to specific work-related tasks that must be performed on a daily basis.
The most common symptoms of a pinched nerve are pain that radiates from the site of the injury to another part of the body, a tingling sensation in the extremities, numbness in the area of the pinched nerve and muscle weakness. Typical treatment for a pinched nerve can vary from resting the area and taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as naproxen, to more serious methods such as surgery.
A pinched nerve can involve different areas of the body and can be extremely debilitating. Any Michigan worker who has developed a pinched nerve while working may want to speak with a work injury attorney in order to find out if there are legal avenues available to them.
Source: coreperformance.com, “What you need to know about pinched nerves,” Accessed Oct. 11, 2015