A lot of people joke about their jobs being a “pain in the neck,” but there may actually be more truth to that joke than they realize.
This article will highlight the different types of neck injuries that are common in American workplaces. Some of these are uncomfortable or painful, whereas others are life-altering.
Soft-tissue injuries
Soft tissue injuries in the neck, like whiplash, can cause numbness and tingling in a worker’s limbs, neck pain or weakness and headaches. Whiplash is particularly common among workers who have to drive for a living, which means it can affect delivery drivers, sales professionals, construction workers, truck drivers and others.
Repetitive strain injuries
Another chronic, bothersome neck injury is caused by repetitive strain — and office workers are particularly prone to this problem. Anybody who sits with their head bent over paperwork or a computer screen for hours at a time can be susceptible to this particular problem, which can cause nerve damage and some of the same symptoms whiplash patients suffer, as described above.
Pinched nerves
A worker who must regularly twist and turn or pick things up runs the risk of developing a pinched nerve and can experience sharp pains that radiate down into their limbs. Plumbers, assembly line workers and others who do physically intensive jobs are particularly prone to these injuries.
Vertebral disk disorders
Heavy lifting that a worker might have to do in their role also puts them at risk of damaging their vertebral disks. Any damage to the bones that form part of the spinal column may leave a patient with significant pain or discomfort that travels from their neck into their legs.
Is your neck condition attributable to your job?
Many workers know that the onset of their neck condition or their exacerbation is attributable to their job but can’t connect it with a specific incident. Pennsylvania law may still allow you to qualify for workers’ compensation in situations such as these. An experienced advocate can help you learn more.