Repetitive Stress Injuries at Work: When to Seek Urgent Care

Repetitive stress or strain injuries are incredibly common, especially with the popularity of certain types of jobs (such as those associated with computer work). And while many companies will do their best to provide employees with ergonomic workplace tools to avoid it, this type of injury still happens to many people. 

But how can you recognize a repetitive stress injury associated with your job? And for many, the big question is: When should I seek treatment to support my workers’ compensation claim best? 

At Injury and Health Urgent Care, we’re of the mind that the best time to seek treatment for pain and injury is as soon as possible. Melissa Kempf, MD, and Shannon Wait, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, work hard to support our patients in their recovery journey. 

The first step is to come to our San Antonio, Texas, clinic for care and support.

Repetitive strain injuries: what they are and why they happen

Repetitive stress or strain injuries occur from a motion a person performs repeatedly, often at the same intensity, leading to overuse of the nerve, muscle, or tendon associated with that motion. Computer workers, musicians, painters (construction workers), and athletes often perform tasks that increase their risks.

Elbows, wrists, shoulders, ankles, and other joints are especially vulnerable. At first glance, it can be easy to shrug off the aching pain, but continued stress leads to worsened symptoms. 

Pain is common with repetitive stress injuries, but you may also experience tingling, stiffness, numbness, and sensitivity to cold and heat. Many people also experience weakness in the affected area. 

The different types of repetitive strain injuries include tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and bursitis. Without treatment or a change in activity, you may also develop more painful conditions. 

When to seek help for a repetitive stress injury 

The best time to seek help for a repetitive strain injury at an urgent care center like ours is right now. It may sound strange if the issue isn’t an emergency, but we encourage you to come in before the symptoms worsen. 

This is because repetitive stress injuries worsen over time without the proper treatment. If you’ve injured yourself with a certain motion at work, you’re likely to keep performing that motion until the pain is severe. 

While many workplaces now consider and implement measures to help prevent these injuries, a current condition requires intervention. Our facility handles many workers’ compensation claims, so we can easily recognize and diagnose repetitive stress injuries.

In addition, early care means we have more treatment options available and a better chance of managing the condition successfully. 

How we support your workers’ compensation claim 

First, we’ll do an exam. This helps us determine how severe the condition has become, which treatments will best suit you, and whether you need time away from work. We may also recommend additional diagnostic tests and imaging studies to confirm the diagnosis. 

We then provide a treatment program that best suits your individualized needs. We are also equipped to provide you with timely assistance regarding your workers’ compensation claim, including helping you file paperwork and obtaining legal assistance, should you require it. 

Why should I go to urgent care now for a less-severe injury?

We encourage you to see a medical professional as soon as possible because repetitive stress injuries only worsen over time. Additionally, a workplace injury should be documented as soon as possible for the best results when seeking compensation. 

We have appointments available at our San Antonio, Texas, office. Simply call or use our online booking tool to make an appointment.