Carpal Tunnel and Workers’ Comp

Categories: Fault in Accident CasesPublished On: January 16th, 2022

There are number of injuries and accidents that are a result of duties that we carry out in our place of employment. One such injury is when an employee is diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome. This article will discuss carpal tunnel syndrome and the available legal options.

According to Web MD [Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, Complications, and Prevention (webmd.com)] carpal tunnel syndrome is “a condition that causes numbness, tingling, or weakness in your hand”. It is also known by the name median nerve compression. This syndrome occurs as a result of the median nerve becoming pressed or squeezed at the wrist. The role of the median nerve is to control the movement of the thumb and first three fingers. CTS is a result of repetitive motions carried out by the same wrist or hand movements over and over again. CTS is most commonly a work-related injury and such injuries are covered by carpal tunnel workers comp . Some jobs or forms of employment that could result in carpal tunnel include the following:

  • Working on a computer
  • Playing musical instruments
  • Sewing
  • Painting
  • Typing or data entry
  • Work on an assembly line
  • Being a mechanic
  • Being a locksmith
  • Cashier job
  • Agricultural worker job
  • Forms of employment that require the repetitive use of tools that vibrate

It must be noted though that CTS can also be the result of injury or trauma to the wrist.

As noted in the Web MD definition there are telltale symptoms of CTS, however, they vary from one person to the next but can be very painful. Some CTS symptoms include the following:

  • Tingling, numbness or burning sensations in the first three fingers or thumb
  • Dexterity loss in fingers or thumb
  • Hand pain that may go as far as the arm and shoulder
  • Weakness or inability to grip, grasp or pinch
  • Frequent dropping of objects

If your doctor diagnoses you with CTS you have a valid claim that can be made through workers’ compensation; if it is a work-related injury. It must be noted though that not every CTS diagnosis may be a valid injury case. The success of your personal injury claim is determined by your doctor and your ability to show what caused the medical condition. If CTS is as a result of your work that requires you to do repeated motions or activities, you can file for a workers’ compensation claim. This is also the case even if you are no longer working for the specific employer where you carried out repetitive motions for your job. This is because injuries associated with repetitive motion may take months or even years to manifest, therefore, it is not uncommon for your symptoms to develop after you have left such employment. Depending on a number of factors you may be able to be compensated for medical expenses, loss of wages and any level of disability that results thereof.

It is important to acquaint yourself with the benefits as well as the claims process of workers compensation. This will equip you with what to expect during the process. Such acquaintance can be made by contacting a reputable personal injury law firm for a free initial consultation. 

 

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