workers comp for RSI?

September 28, 2008 6:53 AM

RSI is crippling my arm. Should I get workers compensation help?

I know about managing my body and workspace to minimize the problems, and have kept RSI mostly at bay for years, but I'm 63 and the effects of my keyboard+mouse work as a programmer are more telling. I also have arthritis but that's a joint pain where this RSI is in ligaments and muscles. A career change is out of the question right now, because in a couple of years a big option matures that I don't want to lose and it's tied to my specific job.

My RSI is at the stage where lifting a glass is painful. I have health insurance but I'm so in debt that I can't afford even insured medical care. Is it a reasonable idea to try to get workers comp to pay for chiropractic, acupuncture and massage therapy? Or would trying for workers comp just lead into a morass of bureaucracy and 'officialized' medical care?

I had a workers comp claim fifteen years ago for (different) RSI and went through various steroid shots and physical therapies that were palliative at best. A chiropractor sorted it out in the end, after a couple of wasted years of non-cure.

I'm employed in California by a big software company with HQ in Florida, and my immediate boss is hostile to workers comp, if any of that is relevant.

posted by anonymous to health & fitness (10 comments total)

Changing nothing is clearly not going to improve your condition, you've already ruled private out, so the choice is pretty clear-- go with workers comp, or change your mind about debt before health.
posted by Static Vagabond at 8:14 AM on September 28, 2008

Or, do some research about RSI and try to some of the recommended therapies on your own. There are plenty of online resources; try to find some that address your specific problems.

Here's a book that many have found helpful.

There are also programs like Desk Doctor which may help.

Definitely look into changing your desk, chair, mouse, keyboard, etc if any (or all) of those things are contributing to your problem.

Take breaks and exercise. I can't emphasize enough how important these two things are; even a simple walk around the room to look out of the window and stretch will do wonders.

The thing that works best for me when I have a really bad flare up is a computer vacation. I'll do as much work as possible away from the computer, then when I go back after a day or two, the pain is often gone.

Best of luck.
posted by LuckySeven~ at 8:53 AM on September 28, 2008

My mom went through this a few years ago. She had to quit her job because the pain wouldn't go away. She had to get a lawyer, and eventually got an out of court settlement for part of her lost wages. I'd try _everything_ before I tried to get workers comp from a hostile employer, because it was a royal pain in the butt for her and dragged on for about four years(!!).

But yes, if you can't figure out how to make the pain stop, you'll need to go the workers comp route.
posted by paanta at 9:43 AM on September 28, 2008

Things that have worked for me to reduce RSI: ice, and not using the mouse. Also stretching before using the computer and taking stretch breaks.

Worker's compensation exists to take care of workers who have job-related health problems. Your supervisor's hostility should not be an issue; if it is lawyer up. As always, with anything that might become a legal issue, document absolutely everything.
posted by theora55 at 9:46 AM on September 28, 2008

Hi. This doesn't directly answer your question, but I had RSI and completely cured it with self applied muscular trigger point massage. The best self help book to get is this - a lot of them are not rigorous and don't describe referred pain properly.

When I say completely cured, I mean that I'm in better shape than most computer workers with no experience of RSI. If you think it's a good tactical and financial move, get them to take you seriously because it is a real problem. However, it feels really good to be able to treat RSI and lot's of common problems oneself.

I'm not a therapist, YMMV, but if anyone wants any specific advice about self treatment with this book, I'm happy to pass on what I know. 5x0exag02 at sneakemail dot com
posted by Not Supplied at 10:37 AM on September 28, 2008

This question is about whether Anonymous should apply for worker's comp or not. There are already a zillion threads on general RSI recommendations.
posted by grouse at 10:42 AM on September 28, 2008 [1 favorite]

True, grouse, but due to the specifics laid out in anonymous' original question, it sounds like s/he really does not want to pursue the worker's comp route; a few of us offered suggestions keeping those circumstances in mind.

In my opinion, yes, anonymous should apply for worker's comp. RSI pain to the degree s/he has described is nothing to fool around with... but, in light of the circumstances, trying the therapies and books suggested by the other posters here could prove beneficial as well.

@Not Supplied - Thanks for the link; I'm going to look into that.
posted by LuckySeven~ at 12:04 PM on September 28, 2008

I should also add that Trigger point therapy isn't a substitute for good working habits etc...a lot of the advice in 'it's not carpal tunnel syndrome' still applies.
posted by Not Supplied at 12:50 PM on September 28, 2008

One thing to find out is whether Florida law or California law applies. When I had RSI issues in Florida, all of the Workman's comp was filed and paid behind the scenes. I did nothing. (It probably helped that I worked in a hospital)

In Texas, I had to be sure to see a "workers' comp" doctor, or I wouldn't be reimbursed. It was a mess. I've no idea what CA does.

Searching for CA and RSI, I got this

This is a page of all 50 state's workers comp pages.

There's probably a Risk Management section of your company, if it's not rolled int HR. They're not likely to be on your side, so read up.

And as to affordability, you can't afford not to do something, whether it's private pay or WC.
posted by lysdexic at 2:00 PM on September 28, 2008

You can go over your immediate boss's head, but it will piss him/her off. I did this in Boston about 10 years ago. The procedure was, for me, talking with my boss and then escalating to HR. When I spoke with HR, I mentioned the ADA, which in hindsight was probably unnecessary. What happened was that my boss got pissed off and HR hired an ergonomics consultant. This led to various desk paraphernalia being acquired and installed for me. What finally ended up helping was wearing a brace long enough to heal.

I think I also learned some posture behaviors I needed, learned to take breaks (and what kinds to take), and I also took Ba Gua Zhang (a relative martial art to Tai Chi Chuan, which also helped immensely).

I handled the problem of pissing off my boss by being otherwise a very good, conscientious and competent worker, taking the lead and managing a small team of extremely effective technical people.

So I think the worker's comp claim was good from the point of view of getting the RSI-prevention equipment I needed at work, but in the long run, I think the brace and learning better posture and habits was probably the best cure for me. Theoretically you could learn that sort of thing for free from the Internet.

Feel free to message me if you want me to look up resources that seem genuine from my point of view, but you say you already had RSI once and managed it, so I assume you have the experience to do that yourself.
posted by kalessin at 4:41 PM on September 28, 2008