Last mile letter carriers form a vital part of the USPS due to their responsibility when it comes to making sure that letters and packages get to your doorstep, porch or mailbox. These individuals often work in hot, snowy or rainy weather, lugging heavy parcels across city blocks or suburban streets in order to get them to your house, and face multiple injury risks due to their very nature of being exposed to the environment. The work of a USPS last mile worker is never easy, but it can be rewarding. One has to be physically fit to perform their work duties, and even then, the very act of performing various actions such as lifting, putting down, sorting through mail and packages can all lead to a phenomenon called repetitive strain injury.

These types of injuries can not only be debilitating, but also, if left untreated for an extended amount of time, can lead to the development of a permanent injury. Thankfully, injured last mile USPS workers are covered by FERS, a piece of legislation that makes it possible for them to seek out compensation for their injuries as federal workers, depending on the body part affected.

That said, the federal workers’ compensation process for injured USPS workers is fraught with bureaucracy and numerous denials due to the specific requirements for compensation, and the fact that many injured last mile USPS workers try to go it alone. It is important to have timely legal representation to make sure your medical assessments are properly carried out and your forms show causation, and we’re here to help with that.

Get Experienced Legal Help Today!

Are you looking for a USPS last mile injured worker attorney? For close to three decades, the experienced lawyers at McCready Law have helped thousands of workers seek and maintain compensation and even overturn denials after getting injured on the job. USPS workers have a heightened rate of injury due to the nature of their jobs, and the Department of Labor’s Office of the Workers’ Compensation programs is charged with the task of issuing compensation to all who qualify.

We serve all injured USPS last mile workers countrywide, and we run a bilingual office (hablamos Español). OWCP has very stringent medical assessment requirements for these kinds of claims, so don’t think of going it alone – let us help expedite the process for you so you can focus on healing on getting better. Please call us NOW at 312-444-0214 for your 100% FREE, no-commitment consultation into all things USPS worker injury compensation – our experienced federal workers’ compensation lawyers are standing by. 

Repetitive Strain Injuries in USPS Last Mile Workers – Why Are They So Common?

Repetitive strain injuries refer to a series of musculoskeletal conditions which occur due to misusing or overusing certain tendons, joints or muscles. These injuries happen due to performing the same motion over and over a series of months or years, culminating in pain, inflammation and an inability to move the affected body part without experiencing a considerable amount of pain. Hands, wrists, shoulders and the back are most commonly affected, and can put you out of commission, as well as limit your quality of life. 

Common Types of Repetitive Strain Injuries

Some of the most common types of repetitive strain injuries experienced by last mile workers include:

Carpal Tunnel 

This is caused by the compression of the median nerve which travels through your wrist, which can lead to tingling, weakness and numbness in your fingers and hand. USPS last mile workers are particularly prone to this condition due to the gripping, grasping and sorting they do all day at their jobs. The most common symptoms include numbness, pain, tingling in the thumb, middle and index fingers. Left to progress without treatment, muscle atrophy can occur. 

Tendinitis

Tendinitis refers to tendon inflammation. Tendons are what connect muscle to bone, and they are fibrous. Tendinitis in USPS last mile workers can range from rotator cuff tendinitis which affects tendons found in the shoulder, tennis elbow which affects the outer elbow, golfer’s elbow which affects the inner elbow, and De Quervain’s tenosynovitis, which affects the thumb and wrist. Symptoms include swelling, pain and diminished range of motion in the body part affected. 

Bursitis

This refers to the inflammation of the bursae, which is a fluid-filled sac which lubricates one’s joints, cushioning them from friction due to movement. Due to the demanding nature of work activities performed by USPS last mile workers such as kneeling, heavy lifting and even standing for extended amounts of time. Common symptoms of bursitis in USPS workers include stiffness, swelling and pain in the affected joint

Trigger Finger

Also known as stenosing tenosynovitis, this condition is characterized by the catching of one’s thumb in a bent position leading to limited movement and pain. Lifting packages and sorting letters can lead to trigger finger development due to the continuous grasping and gripping one has to do while handling mail and packages. Common symptoms associated with trigger finger include a clicking or locking feeling in the finger that’s affected, as well as difficulty straightening one’s finger and pain in said finger. 

Diagnosing Repetitive Strain Injuries in USPS Workers

Left untreated, repetitive strain injuries can develop into permanent injuries and even disability. This is why it’s so important to see a physician for proper diagnosis and treatment the minute you feel something isn’t right with your arm, elbow, finger, wrist, knees or shoulders.

These healthcare professionals will assess your level of pain, tenderness, inflammation and range of motion during diagnosis, and may order MRIs or X-rays to determine the extent of the condition. Nerve conduction studies and electromyography or EMG may also be carried out to determine nerve and muscle function, particularly in conditions such as carpal tunnel. 

USPS Worker Repetitive Strain Injury Prognosis and Treatment

Treatment often incorporates rest and recovery, and not using the affected body part, so healing can begin and inflammation can go down. Anti-inflammatory medications may also be prescribed, such as naproxen or ibuprofen, as well as non-habit forming pain relievers. Physical therapy may also help, such as manual therapy as well as cold or heat therapy, in order to regain strength and mobility.

You may also require steroid injections if the condition is severe as a means to control pain and inflammation, and splints, braces and wheelchairs may also be instrumental in taking the strain off the affected body part and perhaps let you go back to work at a limited capacity. 

Experienced Postal Worker Injury Attorneys – Call Us Today!

If you’ve developed complications arising out of repetitive strain injury, you may be eligible for compensation as long as you can establish causation. Timely filling of all injury forms may also be the difference between getting approved and denied, and this is why it is important to seek out the assistance of an experienced attorney for injured USPS workers so you can hit every milestone and meet every OWCP requirement for compensation.  Regardless of where you are in the country, please give us a call NOW at 312-444-0214 to learn more about how we can help simplify this process and even expedite it on your behalf. Thanks for choosing us, and we look forward to helping you.