Not all workplace injuries happen in a single accident, like falling off scaffolding or slipping on wet tile. Some of the most painful workplace injuries actually happen gradually and due to repeating the same motion or activity again and again. When an injury forms due to frequent repetition, it is aptly named a repetitive stress injury (RSI).
One of the most common and most damaging types of repetitive stress injury is carpal tunnel syndrome. The area in your wrist that contains the median nerves and other tendons used in articulation is the carpal tunnel, and carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by the compression of this area. The result is the nerves and tendons are pinched, causing limited movement, weakness, and chronic pain in the wrist, hand, and forearm. As the symptoms worsen, the affected nerves and tendons can swell and become inflamed, adding even more pressure and causing even more harm.
Carpal tunnel syndrome diagnoses seem to be on the rise in many office and technology industries. Workers who perform their job duties with a mouse and keyboard for 8 or more hours in a day can wear out their wrists, fingers, and hands to the point that carpal tunnel syndrome sets in. People who conduct physical labor involving frequent use of their hands and handheld tools can also suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome, though.
A few of the key contributing risk factors to carpal tunnel syndrome are:
- Typing
- Using a cash register
- Pushing or pulling objects
- Slicing and other forms of food preparation
- Manipulating intricate items
- Using tools like hammers and screwdrivers
Workers’ Compensation & Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
If you have been diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome, then you might be entitled to workers’ compensation for your injury. Workers’ compensation plans should provide coverage for workers who are suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome because this specific type of RSI has become so common in recent decades are more work has shifted into digital and computer-based spaces. A workers’ comp plan without carpal tunnel syndrome coverage is suspicious, and it should be investigated by a workers’ compensation attorney.
Furthermore, a workers’ comp lawyer can help you deal with any issues that might come up when you are trying to get benefits after being diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome. Insurance companies like to try to deny carpal tunnel claims by blaming the claimant’s out-of-work activities and hobbies for the injury. For example, if you play basketball after work, then the insurer might argue that the repetitive motions of the sport, such as dribbling and bending your wrists to take a shot, contributed to your carpal tunnel syndrome, not your work duties. This possibility is why it is important to have strong legal representation by your side when you file your claim.
Do you think your carpal tunnel syndrome was caused by your work duties? Having difficulty getting your workers’ comp claim approved, or was your claim already denied? The Law Offices of Wax & Wax in Santa Clarita and Glendale can help you seek full compensation by providing comprehensive legal counsel throughout your case. Call (818) 946-0608 now to learn more.