The persistent ache in your shoulder when you reach overhead, the sharp pain in your knee after hours of kneeling, or the throbbing in your elbow from leaning at your desk—this is more than just discomfort. It's a daily disruption that affects your ability to work and live. These symptoms could be caused by bursitis, which is a painful inflammation of the joints. Hundreds of thousands of Americans annually miss time on the job due to nonfatal injuries. These injuries are primarily caused by overexertion and bodily reactions, including those from repetitive motion, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

If you suspect your job is the source of this debilitating joint pain, you are likely worried about mounting medical bills, lost wages, and your future ability to provide for your family. The good news is that the Ohio workers' compensation system is designed to help. However, securing benefits for a bursitis work injury often requires proving a direct link between your job duties and your condition. This article will guide you through the process, explaining how to file a claim, the evidence you will need, and how to protect your right to compensation for your work-related bursitis.

What Kind of Work Injury Can Cause Bursitis?

To understand how you can receive workers’ comp for bursitis, it’s helpful to first understand the condition itself. Your body has over 150 bursae located near joints throughout your body, including your shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees.

A Look at Bursae and How They Function

Think of a bursa (the singular of bursae) as a tiny, slippery pillow or a biological shock absorber. These small sacs are filled with synovial fluid and are strategically placed between bones and soft tissues like muscles, tendons, and skin. Their job is to reduce friction, allowing your joints to move smoothly and without pain.

When a bursa becomes inflamed, it swells with excess fluid, leading to a condition called bursitis. This inflammation puts pressure on surrounding tissues, causing the hallmark symptoms of the condition:

• Pain, which can be dull and achy or sharp and shooting.
• Swelling and redness around the affected joint.
• Stiffness or a reduced range of motion.
• Pain that worsens with movement or pressure.

How Repetitive Job Tasks Can Lead to a Bursitis Work Injury in Ohio

While a sudden, forceful impact can cause bursitis, the most common culprit in a workplace setting is repetitive strain. Performing the same motion over and over, day after day, puts continuous stress on a specific joint. This overuse irritates the bursa, eventually leading to inflammation.

Certain occupations carry a much higher risk for developing specific types of bursitis due to the nature of their tasks:

• Shoulder Bursitis (Subacromial Bursitis): Common among painters, mechanics, warehouse workers, and anyone who frequently lifts their arms overhead.
• Elbow Bursitis (Olecranon Bursitis): Often affects plumbers, HVAC technicians, and office workers who consistently lean their elbows on hard surfaces.
• Knee Bursitis (Prepatellar Bursitis): Frequently seen in carpet layers, roofers, tilers, and plumbers who spend long hours kneeling.
• Hip Bursitis (Trochanteric Bursitis): Can develop in machine operators, drivers, and other workers who sit for prolonged periods or whose jobs involve repetitive hip movements.

Even if your job doesn’t involve heavy labor, subtle repetitive motions—like using a computer mouse for eight hours a day or repeatedly scanning items at a checkout counter—can be enough to trigger this painful condition over time.

Filing for Workers’ Compensation for Bursitis in Ohio

The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) provides medical and wage benefits to employees who suffer injuries or illnesses as a direct result of their job duties. Bursitis can absolutely qualify for these benefits, but the path to an approved claim is not always straightforward. In Ohio, a bursitis claim is typically handled in one of two ways: as a traumatic injury or as an occupational disease.

Filing as a Traumatic Injury

If your bursitis was caused by a specific, identifiable workplace accident, your claim would be filed as a traumatic injury. For example, if you fell off a ladder and landed directly on your knee, leading to immediate swelling and a diagnosis of prepatellar bursitis, the cause and effect are clear. These claims are generally simpler to prove because the injury is tied to a single, dateable event. You report the accident, seek medical attention, and file a claim referencing the incident.

Filing as an Occupational Disease

More often, work-related bursitis develops gradually over months or even years of repetitive motion. In these cases, your condition is considered an occupational disease. An occupational disease is a medical condition that arises from the particular nature of your employment.

Under Ohio law, to have an occupational disease claim for bursitis approved, you must prove three things:

1. The disease was contracted in the course of your employment.
2. Your job activities were the direct and proximate cause of the bursitis.
3. Your employment created a risk of developing bursitis that is greater than the risk faced by the general public.

This third point is especially important. You have to show that something specific about your job—like constant kneeling, overhead lifting, or leaning on your elbows—exposed you to a unique hazard. Because these claims lack a single triggering event, they often face more scrutiny from employers and their insurance administrators.

How to Prove Your Bursitis Is Work-Related for an Ohio Workers' Comp Claim

Whether filed as an injury or an occupational disease, the success of your workers’ compensation for bursitis claim hinges on evidence. The burden of proof is on you, the injured worker, to establish a clear and compelling link between your job and your diagnosis.

The Foundational Role of Medical Evidence

The single most powerful piece of evidence in your claim is a detailed medical report from your doctor. It is not enough to simply have a diagnosis of bursitis. Your physician’s report must state, to a reasonable degree of medical certainty, that your work activities were the cause of your condition.

Your doctor should document the specifics of your job duties—the repetitive motions, the heavy lifting, the awkward positions—and explain the medical rationale for how these activities led to the inflammation of your bursa. A vague note stating that your bursitis “could be” work-related is not enough. You need a definitive statement of causation.

Essential Documentation to Support Your Claim

Beyond medical records, other forms of evidence can significantly strengthen your case:

• Your Own Testimony: A detailed account of your job duties and when your symptoms began. Keeping a personal log of your pain levels and the tasks that aggravate them can be very persuasive.
• Witness Statements: Testimony from coworkers who can confirm the repetitive or strenuous nature of your job can help validate your claim.
• Your Official Job Description: This document can formally outline the physical demands of your position.
• Photos or Videos: Visual evidence of your work environment or you performing your job tasks can help BWC officials visualize the strain your body is under.

Why Insurers Often Dispute Bursitis Claims

Insurance companies are financially motivated to deny claims. With a condition like bursitis, they have several common arguments they use for denial:

• Pre-existing Condition: They may argue your bursitis is from an old sports injury, a hobby, or simply age-related degeneration.
• No Causal Link: The insurer might claim your job duties were not strenuous enough to cause the condition.
• Inadequate Medical Evidence: If your doctor’s report does not firmly establish a connection to your work, the claim will likely be denied.

These disputes can turn a seemingly simple claim into a complex legal battle, which is why having an experienced advocate on your side is so beneficial.

Don't Risk a Denial: How an Ohio Workers' Comp Lawyer Can Win Your Bursitis Claim

Trying to navigate the BWC system alone while dealing with the pain of bursitis can be a difficult challenge. An experienced workers’ comp lawyer in Ohio manages the process for you and ensures your rights are protected from start to finish. This is especially true for occupational disease claims, which are inherently more complex.

A dedicated workers’ comp attorney can help you by:

• Managing all paperwork and deadlines: The BWC has strict timelines for filing. A lawyer ensures everything is submitted correctly and on time.
• Developing your medical evidence: An attorney can work with your doctor to ensure their medical reports contain the specific language and detailed analysis needed to prove causation.
• Fighting back against denials: If your claim is denied, your lawyer will handle the entire appeals process, from gathering additional evidence to representing you at hearings before the Industrial Commission of Ohio.
• Maximizing your benefits: Your attorney will work to ensure you receive all the benefits you are entitled to, including payment for medical treatments and full compensation for lost wages.

What Compensation Can You Receive for a Bursitis Claim in Ohio?

If your workers’ comp for bursitis claim is approved in Ohio, you are entitled to several types of benefits designed to cover your medical costs and offset your financial losses.

• Medical Benefits: Your employer’s insurance must cover all reasonable and necessary medical care related to your bursitis. This includes doctor’s appointments, diagnostic tests (like MRIs or ultrasounds), physical therapy, medications, cortisone injections, and, if needed, surgical procedures.
• Temporary Total Disability (TTD) Benefits: If your doctor determines that you are completely unable to work while you recover, you can receive TTD benefits. These are wage replacement payments that cover a portion of your lost income.
• Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) Benefits: After you have reached Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI)—the point at which your condition is not expected to get any better—you may be able to receive a PPD award if the bursitis has resulted in a permanent physical impairment.

Need Legal Help? Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law, is One Phone Call Away

Proving that your painful bursitis is a direct result of your job duties can be a challenging process, especially when insurance companies are looking for reasons to deny your claim. You do not have to face this fight alone.

At Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law, we are dedicated to helping injured workers across Ohio secure the benefits they deserve. Our team of experienced workers’ compensation lawyers understands the evidence needed to build a successful bursitis claim. We will handle every aspect of your case so you can focus on what matters most—your health and recovery.

Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your case and learn how we can help you move forward. We are available day or night to assist you.