Hand injuries can happen for any number of reasons, but they are devastating when they do. If you suffer a hand injury at work, whether it’s slamming it in a drawer or door, overusing it or falling and breaking bones, you could be dealing with pain and dysfunction for months or years to come.
The majority of hand-related injuries on the job are caused by lacerations (63%), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics as reported in Slice. The BLS also reports that crush injuries, puncture wounds, fractures and avulsions make up around 33% of other hand injuries.
If you can’t type, you can’t work
If you work in an office and have a computer job, you know that a hand injury could be the end of your employment, at least until you can figure out another solution. If you can’t type quickly or accurately, you could struggle to get your work done, could fall behind and may end up frustrated with your job.
Fortunately, if you were hurt on the job, you should be able to seek workers’ compensation. Workers’ compensation will allow you to seek out fair compensation for missed working hours or the cost of your medical care to help get your hand working correctly again.
How can you treat hand injuries?
Depending on the kind of injury you’re struggling with, sometimes rest is the main priority. For lacerations or crushing injuries, you may need surgery or stitches, physical therapy or other rehabilitation supports. Broken bones may need to be splinted, or you may need to take medications to reduce pain and swelling.
The problem with hand injuries is that they are often complex. The hands are made up of many bones, tendons, ligaments and joints, so if even one part of the hand is damaged, it could be completely immobilized. If you have an injury, tell your employer. Addressing it now may help you get the care you need to recuperate and get back to the job in the future. If you wait, the damage could worsen and leave you unable to do your job.