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As a certified nursing assistant (CNAs), you provide comfort and support for those with aging and ailing loved ones. It’s an honorable profession, but it’s not without risks. Many nursing homes are understaffed, leading workers to become overwhelmed. The physical demands of the job also make CNAs prone to injuries. If one occurs, an attorney can help you seek the medical care and disability benefits you may be entitled to as a result of the work injury. 

What Are Common Types of Injuries?

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

CNAs often bear musculoskeletal damage, which affects tendons, muscles, ligaments, and bones, usually in the neck, back, and spine. They may occur quickly when lifting a patient or slowly over time due to repetitive motions.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most commonly sustained injury for CNAs. The median nerve uses the carpel tunnel to run through the entire length of your arm and down to your wrist. When the nerve is pinched, you’ll experience numbness, tingling, weakness, and pain. 

Depending on the severity of the condition, your doctor may suggest resting and icing your wrist or wearing a splint. In some cases, you may need surgery or cortisone injections.

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome 

Similar to carpal tunnel, thoracic outlet syndrome occurs due to a compression of the nerves (or blood vessels). It affects the thoracic outlet, which is the space between your collarbone and the first rib. Injuries to the outlet will cause pain, numbness, and weakness in the shoulders and neck, and can sometimes lead to a cold sensation in your fingers. Treatment is available through surgery or physical therapy, depending on the extent of the damage. However, for some, the pain caused by thoracic outlet syndrome may become chronic, affecting the patient for the rest of their life. 

Tension Neck Syndrome

This condition is also known as neck tension, trapezius myalgia, or cervicobrachial syndrome. It often affects the region where the shoulders meet the neck, causing pain that could radiate down to your hands. The condition may also cause occasional headaches and muscle spasms in the neck. The syndrome can be treated and prevented by engaging in neck stretching exercises.  

Bursitis

The body contains bursae, which are fluid-filled sacs surrounding the joints and tendons. Their lubricated fluid reduces friction caused by movement while also providing a cushion between the tendons, muscles, bones, and skin. However, when excessive pressure is placed on them suddenly or consistently over time, you’ll experience tenderness, pain, swelling, and restricted movement. Doctors diagnose shoulder bursitis most often, but the bursae of other major joints, such as the elbows, hips, knees, and heels, are also vulnerable. 

The condition has numerous treatments, including icing and resting the affected areas. Using pain-relieving nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like naproxen and ibuprofen is effective, though your doctor may also prescribe cortisone injections. 

If the condition is more serious or has gone on too long without treatment, you may need physical therapy to strengthen the muscles. In rare cases, you may need to have the fluid aspirated from an affected bursa to relieve the pressure. This is usually done by a doctor with a needle and syringe. Depending on the amount of pressure, you may need multiple visits to treat bursitis completely. 

Lateral Epicondylitis

Lateral epicondylitis is also known as tennis or golfer’s elbow. Due to repetitive motions of the wrist and arm, tendons in the elbow become overloaded. Your forearm muscles will attach themselves to a bony bump outside of the elbow, causing pain down to your hand. 

Usually, lateral epicondylitis is treated through rest and over-the-counter pain relievers, but sometimes surgery is needed to repair the damage. 

Tendinitis

Tendons attach muscles to the bone. They can become inflamed and cause pain—usually in the shoulders, elbows, wrists, thighs, knees, ankles, or heels. It’s recommended that you use ice and heat to treat the tendinitis. For the first three days, ice the afflicted area for up to 20 minutes every four to six hours. If using an ice pack, cover it in a towel, so it doesn’t come in direct contact with your skin. Ice constricts blood vessels, which will reduce the swelling. After three days, begin using heat, which increases blood flow to encourage healing. However, if left untreated, and with continued use of the strained body part, the pain will worsen. 

Tenosynovitis

Tenosynovitis is an inflammation of the tendons. It often causes pain in the hands, wrists, or feet due to repetitive motion. It’s also a common condition that heals within four to six weeks. When detected early, your doctor might suggest rest and pain relievers. Physical therapy can also help prevent tenosynovitis from reoccurring. For chronically inflamed tendons, surgery is used to provide relief. When tenosynovitis goes untreated, the affected area may become permanently stiff and limit your mobility. 

What Are Common Causes of Injuries?

Patient Handling

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Not every nursing home supplies the necessary equipment to properly lift patients. When they need to be moved, the responsibility falls to the assistants who must transport the patients themselves. Due to the size and weight of some patients, along with the repetitive motions the CNAs must use, muscle sprains are very common. Injuries to the shoulders and back, including slip discs, are also sustained.  

Violence 

Many nursing home residents are living with forms of dementia, which will affect their ability to reason properly. They may lash out violently, frequently causing bruises, cuts, and broken bones. During these violent episodes, needlesticks might occur, possibly exposing the CNA to bloodborne illnesses. 

Slip & Falls

Like violence, slip and falls can also result in bruises, broken bones, and even head injuries. Slick floors can be difficult to detect, especially if there aren’t signs placed near the slippery areas. 

Understaffing 

Due to budget limitations or a lack of qualified candidates, many nursing homes are understaffed. This increases the risk of an injury occurring, as CNAs are responsible for more work under difficult time restraints. Also, without enough staff to help move patients, CNAs will have to carry more weight by themselves, increasing strain on the body. 

Overexertion 

Many CNAs have mandatory overtime hours to fulfill as part of their job, increasing stress and fatigue levels. With more work to do, especially when handling patients, they’re more likely to become injured. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), CNAs had the second-highest number of reported musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in 2017

What Are Ways to Prevent Workplace Injuries?

1. Stay in Shape

Do simple workouts during the week to help increase your stamina. Take a walk for at least 30 minutes a day and take the stairs rather than an elevator. 

For more flexibility and better balance, sign up for yoga or Pilates classes. 

If you want to build up your strength, use weight machines at a gym or purchase resistance bands that you can use at home.

2. Lift With Care

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Unfortunately, not all nursing homes have the budget for lifting equipment. During your CNA training, you should have been taught the proper ways to transport a patient in numerous situations, like taking them from their bed to a wheelchair or turning them to prevent bedsores. If you weren’t given lessons, there are resources you can use to learn proper lifting techniques.  

3. Ask for Help

Even knowing the proper methods to transport a patient, you may not be able to move them without assistance. Reach out to fellow staff members for help, so you can protect the patient and yourself.

However, there will be instances when help isn’t available. If you’re consistently placed in situations where you need to transport a patient, but no staff is accessible, reach out to your supervisor to discuss implementing lift teams. You can suggest they create a back injury prevention program if one doesn’t yet exist in the facility. 

What Should You Do If You've Been Injured at Work?

Report injuries to your supervisor as they occur to create a record of the event. Seek treatment immediately. While your employer might want you to see the company’s physician, it’s preferable to use your own. Depending on the type of injury, you could be entitled to damages through a workers’ compensation or a personal injury claim. After seeking treatment, reach out to an attorney to discuss your options. 

 

An injury can cause chronic pain that leaves you unable to work as you once did. If you’re experiencing discomfort, reach out to the attorneys at Salerno & Leavitt. For over 30 years, they have helped CNAs receive compensation for the injuries they’ve sustained. They’re known throughout Omaha, NE, for the compassion they show to their clients and the dedication they have for seeking justice. Whether dealing with your employer or their insurance company, you can rely on the firm for steadfast representation. For more information on their practice areas, visit their website. For a free case evaluation, make an appointment at (402) 502-9002.

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