When you make your living working in a New Jersey factory or a similar environment where you repeatedly perform the same tasks, you face a high risk of repetitive motion injuries. Common among assembly line workers, work-related repetitive motion and musculoskeletal injuries are among the top causes of missed work in America. Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most common types of these injuries.
According to OHSO Online, repetitive motion injuries and musculoskeletal disorders account for 31% of all work-related injuries and illnesses experienced by American employees. Carpal tunnel syndrome, specifically, is the nation’s most common repetitive motion injury, impacting more than 8 million people across the United States.
A difficult recovery
Carpal tunnel may vary broadly in terms of severity. However, each year, about 120,000 Americans experience carpal tunnel that is severe enough to warrant surgery. Without surgery, carpal tunnel often causes numbness, tingling and weakness in your hand or arm, and it may also lead to considerable pain.
Even with surgery, it may take time to heal from carpal tunnel syndrome. Research shows that it takes an average of 23 days to recover from a repetitive motion injury. This is 14 days longer than the average recovery time for all other injury types.
A serious financial toll
While carpal tunnel syndrome and other repetitive motion industries may have significant impacts on your quality of life and your ability to work, they also cost employers a hefty sum each year. Every year, U.S. employers pay about $80 million to cover workers’ compensation costs for repetitive motion injuries.