Many preexisting injuries, such as arthritis and degenerative disc disease, often get aggravated by a work injury. A workers’ right to file for worker’s compensation in Illinois for these preexisting injuries is often misunderstood. You do have the right to file for workers’ compensation benefits if an injury causes, aggravates or accelerates your arthritis or degenerative disc disease.

Arthritis is very common, but is not well understood. With over 100 different types of arthritis, it is not a single disease; it is an informal way of referring to joint pain or joint disease. With degenerative disc disease, changes in the disks in your back cause pain.

Common arthritis joint symptoms include swelling, pain, stiffness and decreased range of motion. Symptoms may come and go, they can be mild, moderate or severe and may stay about the same for years, but may progress or get worse over time. Severe arthritis can result in chronic pain, inability to do daily activities and make it difficult to walk or climb stairs.

Degenerative disc disease is one of the most common causes of low back and neck pain and a form of arthritis. Despite what the name suggests, degenerative disc disease is not a disease, but a condition in which natural, age-related wear-and-tear on a disc causes pain, instability, and other symptoms. An injury to the disc can activate and accelerate degenerative disc disease often causing chronic neck and back pain.

Plenty of job requirements create an environment to make a person more likely to aggravate these pre-existing conditions. Jobs requiring repetitive motion, such as typing and assembly line work, high impact activities, such as manual labor and construction, or remaining sedentary for too long can all lead to aggravating arthritis or degenerative disc disease.

Repetitive motion work injuries can be a serious detriment to your health. It is important to understand that these pre-existing conditions, when aggravated, are covered by Illinois Workman’s Compensation and a pre-existing condition does not disqualify an injury as a work injury. When claiming compensation for an aggravation of a pre-existing condition, you must be able to show that the aggravation of the injury was a result of work.  A good attorney can help you talk to your doctor about this.

Employers are required under Illinois Workers’ Compensation Law to carry insurance covering work-related injuries. Injuries that aggravate or accelerate a work injury are compensable under workers’ compensation, regardless of an employer’s culpability or the employee’s prior physical condition. The basic eligibility requirements for a claim must show that an employee suffered a work-related physical injury.  Any medical care would be 100% paid for, lost time would be compensated and you’d be owed a settlement when all is said and done.

Workers’ compensation is a complicated system. Many injured workers do not get the benefit settlements they deserve. We are experienced attorneys and can help you find the best Illinois workers’ compensation law firm for your case.   If you would like our help, fill out our contact form or call us at 800-517-1614 for a free consultation.  We cover all of Illinois.