Can You File a Workers’ Compensation Claim for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome may be caused by repetitive stress injuries a person encounter while on the job. As more jobs focus on employees sitting at desks and using a keyboard and a mouse, repetitive stress injury diagnoses have seen a dramatic increase.
How Does Desk Work Cause Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Repetitive motions, motions you complete over and over (like typing at a computer), can put you at high risk for developing carpal tunnel syndrome. Repeated motions have been shown to cause extreme pressure on the nerves and tendons in the hands and wrists. The bones and ligaments of your hands and wrists have a carpal tunnel area, where the nerves and tendons pass through. When these become injured, you may experience
● Tingling up the hands and wrists
● Loss of sensation from the hands to the arms
● Burning sensation in the fingers
● Difficulty grasping items
● Increasing amounts of pain as you use your hands
Men are three times more likely to suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome than women and assembly line professionals are more likely to develop this condition than data entry employees. To determine if your carpal tunnel syndrome is work-related, you will need to go through a series of physical examinations. Doctors will also have to rule out if your injury is the result of an underlying condition – such as arthritis or diabetes.
If you are diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome, depending on the severity, you may have several treatment options, including
● Restricting movements of the hand or wrist for several weeks – allowing the tendons and nerves to heal;
● Taking pain and anti-inflammatory medications to reduce swelling; or
● Undergoing physical therapy.
In extreme cases, you may need surgery to relieve the nerve pressure. In these types of cases, you could be forced to take several weeks to months off work while your hands and wrists heal, leaving you without any source of income or even financial support for your medical bills.
Filing for Workers’ Compensation
Workers’ compensation claims are reserved for injuries that you have sustained from work. Unfortunately, carpal tunnel syndrome cases are one of the hardest to prove. These claims will be quickly denied unless you can prove that your carpal tunnel syndrome is the direct result of your job or it was made worse by repetitive motions completed at work.
Because carpal tunnel syndrome claims are so complex, you need to enlist the assistance of a workers’ compensation attorney. An attorney can help you gather evidence proving your carpal tunnel syndrome was caused by the repetitive motions of your job and that you qualify for benefits from your employer’s workers’ compensation policy.
Do You Have Work-Related Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? Contact Petro Cohen, P.C. Now
If you have carpal tunnel syndrome from the repetitive motions carried out daily at work, you may have a claim for workers’ compensation. To improve the chances your claim will be approved, you need to have an attorney help you with your case. Contact Petro Cohen, P.C. today at 888-675-7607 or fill out an online contact form to schedule your consultation.
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