Carpal Tunnel from a Work Injury Workers’ Compensation Claim
Getting into the everyday routine can get repetitive. It could be because of monotonous tasks like going to and working most days. With a 9-5 desk job, typing all day, it may seem like a job with low risks of injury. However, within these day to day tasks, you may not realize that sitting in the same position or even typing on a flat surface may cause what’s called carpal tunnel over time. In this case you may have carpal tunnel from a work injury.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome or CTS can occur due to work in many occupations. You could be a painter or construction worker among others. These types of injuries are complex because it brings up the question, could you really file a Workers’ Compensation claim due to carpal tunnel from a work injury?
What is Carpal Tunnel?
Carpal tunnel affects the nerves and tendons in your hands and wrists. The National Institutes of Health (NIH), say that CTS happens after the median nerve is squeezed or pressed too much over the course of time causing damage to your hands. The median nerve follows the forearm up into the palm of the hand. This nerve creates movement in your thumb and first three fingers. Damaging the nerve tunnel can cause the canal to be smaller creating a painful, sore, sometimes sharp irritation. CTS is a condition that appears more gradual over time. Carpal tunnel is not usually an issue that is noticed until years later. Most often, this type of injury happens on the job. Moreover, if carpal tunnel gradually gets worse, it’s difficult to know the direct cause of this pain. Finding the cause can be difficult because this could’ve been developed because of work that’s done at home. Therefore, it’s important to know how carpal tunnel progresses over time to pinpoint if it is carpal tunnel from a work injury.
How Does Carpal Tunnel Progress Over Time?
CTS happens overtime, so how does it progress and when did this injury happen? First, know that carpal tunnel can develop faster depending on age. Tendons in particular become more fragile with age. That may play a part into how fast or how gradual the injury was. To know if it was carpal tunnel from a work injury, evaluate what type of job you are working or worked.
Ask yourself, do you have repetitive tasks everyday like typing? Is this something I do often when I clock in? Are you twisting your hands and wrists? Note that work related issues could be from:
- Using a computer keyboard
- Using power tools that vibrate
- Pushing, slicing, twisting, squeezing, cutting or pressing objects
When experiencing carpal tunnel it can feel very painful. Sometimes it can even cause long-term effects. CTS can appear on both hands. Those who experience carpal tunnel may have:
- Tingling in the hands, fingers, arms and wrists
- Numbness
- Pain in the wrists and hands
- Swollen fingers
- Poor grip
Most cases often show up years down the road. Therefore, it can require extra proof that your carpal tunnel from a work injury was a direct result of the requirements of your job. Filing for workers’ compensation due to carpal tunnel is difficult, however it is possible. If you feel as though you have a workers’ comp. claim due to carpal tunnel, keep reading.
Workers’ Compensation & Carpal Tunnel from a Work Injury
To start, file a claim with the workers’ compensation commission in your state. The result of the claim will depend on the doctor’s ability to determine the cause of your medical condition. However, if it has been determined that your injuries were caused by a previous employer you can still file a claim to receive compensation.
Carpal tunnel syndrome can be considered a work-related injury. More specifically, they identify as an occupational condition. Regardless of what your work injury was, you may still be able to receive compensation. This is where hiring the right lawyer comes into play because proving your case is what will make or break your claim.
Talk to a Carpal Tunnel from a Work Injury Attorney
We strongly advised you to contact a workers’ compensation attorney for a better idea on what direction to go. It can be difficult to know where to start. These are very specific cases to handle on your own, so don’t do it alone. Even if you aren’t looking to hire an attorney, it’s important to get an idea on which direction to go.