Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)
- You do not need a diagnosis from your GP to make a successful claim for compensation.
- Our Solicitors offers FREE employment advice as part of your claim for compensation
- Every day, six people in the UK leave their jobs due to an RSI condition.
- A Data Input Clerk received record compensation for her RSI claim - £484,000.
- 1 in 50 of all workers in the UK have reported and RSI condition.
- RSI sufferers take, on average, take 19 days off work per year.
Who is at risk?
RSI is a growing problem, which costs the UK economy at least £5.5 billion a year. It affects people in a wide range of jobs and activities, including:
- Computer operators
- Construction workers
- Call centre staff
- Hairdressers
- Beauticians
- Carpenters
- Musicians
- Sign language interpreters
- Checkout operators
- Assembly workers
- Poultry workers
- Cleaners
- Garment workers
- Musicians
Causes
There are numerous reasons why a repetitive strain injury incidence may manifest itself, both physical and mental.
- An overuse of the muscles on a continued repetitive basis
- Cold temperatures
- Vibrating equipment
- Forceful activities
- Poor posture or a badly organised work area that is not ergonomically sound
- Holding the same posture on a continuous basis
- Prolonged periods of work without a break
- Stress has been proven to increase the incidence of repetitive strain injuries
- Direct pressure or a blow to the body
- Carrying heavy loads on a repeated basis
- Fatigue
Each type of RSI will be caused by the breakdown in a specific bodily function, which has been caused by one (or many) of the factors that have been listed above.
RSI is not a specific disease but a loose group of other, more specific conditions. Some of these are:
- Bursitis
- Cubital tunnel syndrome
- DeQuervain's syndrome
- Diffuse RSI
- Dupuytren's contracture
- Dystonia (writers cramp)
- Epicondylitis
- Gamekeeper's thumb
- Ganglion
- Raynauds disease
- Tendinitis
- Tenosynovitis
- Thoracic outlet syndrome
RSI facts
- RSI affects more people in manual jobs than in IT
- 1 in 50 of all workers in the UK have reported RSI symptoms
- 5.4m working days are lost to RSI each year in the UK
- Every day 6 people leave their jobs due to RSI
- RSI costs the UK economy between £5bn and £20bn each year
- RSI conditions affect the best workers
Symptoms
The overriding general symptom of a repetitive strain injury is pain. Usually this is in the local area affected by the RSI, however, this is not always the case. For example, a pinched nerve in the shoulder region could be the reason for a hand based RSI, so it is important to be aware that there may be a certain degree of linkage between injuries.
Pain will usually manifest itself in the muscles or joints and can affect the shoulders, neck, upper back, arms wrists, hands and fingers amongst others.
Tingling, numbness, tightness, burning, swelling and general soreness are often experienced along with a feeling of weakness in the affected area. Some may experience a different colouration in the skin and/or a change in shape of the affected region.
Tiredness can often be associated with a repetitive strain injury. The actual pain itself can have a weakening affect; however, depending on the type and severity of the RSI, it can also affect sleeping patterns.
In the early stages of an RSI it is common to have one or two of the symptoms during the type of activity that brings on the pain, but once the activity has ceased, the symptoms will also disappear.
For example, if you are a typist you may experience RSI type symptoms during the day whilst typing, but once you have finished work (or over the weekend) you will not suffer any symptoms. It is important to note that although the pain may be manageable (and it may disappear for large periods of your day) it could develop into a more severe case producing greater pain with more frequency (the RSI symptoms may even become irreversible if the case is sufficiently advanced) if the source of the RSI is not tackled and treatment is not sought.
Computer related repetitive strain injury
Repetitive strain injuries caused from badly set-up work stations, a wrong mouse or keyboard type, account for large numbers of Occupational Disease claims within the workplace.
An RSI in general occurs when excess stress is placed on a particular joint, such as a wrist joint. When the stress repeatedly occurs, the body does not recover quickly enough and the joint becomes irritated. The body reacts to this irritation by pumping fluid into the affected area to reduce the stress on the muscle or tendon.
Other conditions that are caused by repeatedly using the wrong office equipment are:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome – swelling of the carpal tunnel within the wrist
- Tendonitis – tearing/inflammation of tendons
- Epicondylitis - tennis elbow
- Cervical radiculpathy – disk compression of the neck
- Reflex sympathetic dystrophy – dry, swollen hands with loss of muscle control
- Ganglion cyst – lump in the wrist from leaked tendons
If you are suffering with pains in your wrists due to your mouse, having issues because of your keyboard or are experiencing pins and needles because of the general set-up of your work station you should report these symptoms of RSI to your employer. They will make a record of this and should perform a risk assessment on your work station. Your Manager has a responsibility to monitor these issues, including reviewing the risk assessment. Additionally you should also visit your GP with your ongoing symptoms.
Not only compensation
We will not only help you claim compensation for you or a loved ones suffering, we could also help you claim for medical expenses, lost wages and other possible out of pocket expenses.
Our Solicitors are experts in repetitive strain injury claims.
We will find out exactly what you are entitled to and make sure that you get it. It's a simple process and one that we have had years of experience in.
Contact us on 0800 118 5855. Our services are free, and our claims for compensation are run under a No Win No Fee policy so claiming will not cost you a penny.
Know your rights
Ultimately it is your employers responsibility to maintain a safe working environment and there is a large body of health and safety legislation that has been devised to allow you to claim compensation if you have been injured at work.
You maybe reticent to pursue an injury compensation claim against your employer due to a feeling of awkwardness with both your employer and colleagues, but it is commonplace for such compensation claims to be initiated and business should have factored this into their business plan.
Furthermore, it is a legal requirement for your employer to have suitable liability insurance in place in the event of such a claim. Therefore, you need not worry about your employer having to payout a large sum, which may affect the ongoing running of the business, or your colleague’s jobs as any compensation payout will be awarded through the insurance company.
Free claim
After an accident or suffering from an industry caused illness or injury, making a claim can seem a daunting task. But the team at
Hand Arm Disease Specialists are here to guide you through this simple process.
You can start the process yourself by filling in our easy to use online claim form, requesting a call back at a time that is most convenient to you or, if you wish for that personal touch, you can call our team now on
0800 118 58555.
Remember, it doesn't matter if you contact us by telephone or via the web, you're under no obligation to take things further. Our staff is simply employed to give you the free advice and information you need to make a decision on your claim. We give you the chance to find out how we can help you and what the process involves.
Our team of advisor's are friendly, helpful and knowledgeable with an excellent understanding of the claims process.
Claim today!
If you, or someone you know has suffered, you are entitled to pursue a claim for the injuries and losses that you have suffered. Simply fill out our
online form today and let us help you get the justice you deserve.
RSI Compensation Claim
Date : 22 Mar 2011
An RSI injury occurs as a result of repetitive, long term and excessive overuse of the hands, wrists, back or shoulders. The condition often leads to pain and suffering, having to take time off work and generally not knowing how to deal with the ongoing symptoms. All in all, this usually leads the RSI sufferer with no option but to make a claim for RSI compensation.
View News Article
Artist gives hand scare brush-off to paint again
Date : 15 Mar 2011
WHEN artist Leo du Feu first experienced a mild tingling sensation in his right hand while painting, he didn't think too much of it.
Just weeks later, he was diagnosed with repetitive strain injury (RSI) in both his hands, casting doubts over his career as a full-time artist.
The 26-year-old from Linlithgow, who predominantly paints landscape and wildlife pictures, was instructed by his doctor to down tools for six months, and has only recently picked up his paintbrush again. He said: "I absolutely love painting, so being told I couldn't do it for six months was quite depressing and I have gone through phases of feeling very low."
Source : www.news.scotsman.com
Link : http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/Artist-gives-hand-scare-brushoff.6734339.jp
Massaging fat business fliers gave us RSI
Date : 08 Mar 2011
Two Virgin Atlantic beauty therapists suffered repetitive strain injury after giving massages to overweight businessmen, a court heard.
Jayne Evans, 40, claims she was left struggling with simple tasks such as pulling on jeans or slicing vegetables.
She and Michelle Hindmarch, 35, say they suffered chronic muscular pain in their shoulders, upper back and wrists after giving intensive shiatsu massage to business and first class passengers at the Clubhouse lounge at Heathrow Terminal 3. They are suing Virgin Atlantic for more than £500,000.
Theodore Huckle, counsel for the women, told the High Court they had been forced to end their careers, and the pain meant peeling carrots or taking a roast from the oven was beyond them. Mrs Evans, of Ruislip, was sent home after an arduous session in 2005 when a large male client asked her to massage even harder, the judge was told.
She is seeking £327,000 from Virgin for exposing her to the risk of injury. She is still at the firm in an office role. Mrs Hindmarch, of Banstead, is seeking £235,000. Virgin accepts liability but contests the extent of the injury and the level of damages. Judge Martin McKenna reserved judgment to a later date.
Source : www.thisislondon.co.uk
Link : http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23929886-massaging-fat-business-fliers-gave-us-rsi.do
Could your blow-dry poison you?
Date : 08 Mar 2011
When a rep selling a popular long-term hair straightening treatment visited Karen Dandy’s salon last year, the hairdresser was intrigued.
Assembling her team of stylists and two willing models, Karen watched as the treatment — dubbed the Brazilian blow-dry, and loved by celebrities such as Lindsay Lohan and Nicole Richie — was applied.
Little more than 30 minutes into the process, when the models’ hair was heated with straighteners, all five people in the room began suffering headaches and nausea, with stinging eyes and sore throats. Karen and her staff found themselves inhaling a noxious chemical mist that rose to the salon ceiling and hung there in a cloud.
Source : www.dailymail.co.uk
Link : http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1363620/Brazilian-blow-dry-uses-cocktail-chemicals-deeply-disturbing-effects.html
Bad body posture makes you a sitting duck
Date : 18 Feb 2011
If your job requires long hours of sitting then getting up from your desk and walking around a little every 20 minutes or so could help your body more than a 45-minute session at the gym, say experts.
Source : The Times of India
Link : timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/fitness/Bad-body-posture-makes-you-a-sitting-duck/articleshow/7522469.cms