If you’re like many Americans, your job likely involves working with your hands. It’s normal for the hands, fingers, and wrists to experience some fatigue after working for several hours. However, there are times when a feeling of pain, numbness, or tingling in the arms or hands may indicate something more serious, such as the initial symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).
In some cases, carpal tunnel syndrome is a result of an accident. However, there are many other cases where carpal tunnel may be considered a work-related injury. If you suspect that you have CTS due to repetitive motion or activities on the job, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits to cover your medical care and pay for a portion of your lost wages.
The trusted Pennsylvania workers’ compensation lawyers at Calhoon & Kaminsky P.C. can help you take the steps you need to get the benefits you’re entitled to. To find out if your carpal tunnel can be covered under workers’ compensation, contact us online today for a free case review.
What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
The carpal tunnel is a space in your wrist through which the median nerve passes. This nerve runs from the forearm through to the palm. When the nerve tunnel in the wrist becomes squeezed or compressed, the median nerve becomes irritated.
Because this nerve controls the muscular movement of the thumb and the first three fingers, someone with carpal tunnel syndrome may experience significant pain in the form of numbness, tingling, or burning sensations anywhere throughout these digits. There may also be serious pain in the rest of the hand, the wrist, and the arm. CTS can affect a person’s ability to control their fingers and thumb, leading to a weak grip and dropping objects.
Common Causes of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Because many different activities put strain on the hands and fingers, carpal tunnel syndrome has several potential causes. CTS can also result from certain diseases and even pregnancy.
When it comes to work-related CTS, this injury is generally caused by repetitive motion when an employee makes the same movements over and over again with their hands or wrists.
Some of the types of work-related activities that include such motions are:
- Typing
- Data entry
- Working on an assembly line
- Sewing
- Working as a mechanic
- Playing musical instruments
- Painting or drawing
- Performing agricultural work
- Working as a locksmith
- Working as a cashier
- Performing jobs that require the use of vibrating tools, such as jackhammers, chainsaws, etc.
CTS can also be the result of trauma from a work-related accident. For example, wrist sprains, strains, and fractures can often lead to the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.
Can You Get Workers’ Comp for Carpal Tunnel?
If you work in a job that requires you to perform activities that involve repetitive motion and you are experiencing the symptoms of CTS, you may be eligible to file a workers’ compensation claim. You may also be able to file a claim if you have left that job but have recently begun developing symptoms, as the effects of carpal tunnel syndrome may take a long time to become obvious.
In Pennsylvania, those who develop CTS as a result of their work duties may be able to claim compensation that covers their medical treatment and a portion of the wages they have lost while their injury has kept them from working. Recovering compensation can make a big difference for those whose lives and work have been put on hold due to the pain and loss of function CTS causes.
Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome an Accident or an Occupational Disease?
Carpal tunnel syndrome is considered an occupational disease because it is often the result of repetitive stress. However, CTS can also be caused by accidents.
How to File a Carpal Tunnel Workers’ Comp Claim in Pennsylvania
If you want to file a workers’ compensation claim, you must tell your employer that you have suffered work-related carpal tunnel syndrome. You must do this within 120 days from when you discover your injury. However, you should try to report the injury within 21 days to claim benefits from the date of your injury. Waiting longer may mean you are only eligible to claim benefits from the date you reported the damage.
It is also vital to seek medical attention as soon as possible to have official documentation of your CTS. In Pennsylvania, your employer has the right to provide a list of approved physicians for you to choose from.
You must then file your claim with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) and fill out the required forms. A knowledgeable workers’ comp attorney can help you through the process of pursuing your claim while you focus on healing.
How to Win a Workers’ Comp Claim for Carpal Tunnel
To qualify for workers’ compensation benefits, you must prove your CTS resulted from a work-related injury or condition and not something you suffered because of outside activities or hobbies. This may require evidence ranging from a simple doctor’s note from your treating physician to eyewitness statements from your co-workers.
Consulting with an experienced Pennsylvania workers’ compensation attorney can give you a much clearer idea of the steps you need to take to present your case and optimize its chances of success.
Suffering from Carpal Tunnel as a Result of Overexertion at Work? Talk to Our Workers’ Comp Lawyers in Pennsylvania Today
Everyone has the right to expect their health and safety to be respected in the workplace. Unfortunately, the Pennsylvania workers’ compensation attorneys at Calhoon & Kaminsky P.C. have seen workers suffer from injury and pain due to their occupational duties far too often.
If you suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome due to overexertion at work, we are here to help. Our workers’ compensation lawyers are committed to providing the individualized service and excellent representation that injured workers need to get the medical care and financial peace of mind they deserve. Call or contact us online today for your free case review.
