Workers' compensation for carpal tunnel syndrome
If you work at a job that involves frequent bending of you wrist or grasping with your hands, you may be at risk for developing carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). This is an injury to the nerve that goes from your forearm to your hand.
CTS causes pain, numbness, or discomfort in your wrist, and can even travel up your arm to your shoulder. You may experience loss of control of your hand, and have trouble handling objects.
More than eight million people are affected by CTS across the country. And since it’s most frequently caused by the stress of repetitive movements on the job, workers are turning to the workers’ compensation system in large numbers to recover what they’ve lost because of the injury. In addition to repetitive motions, CTS symptoms can also be triggered by a single trauma to the hand or neck.
If you experience pain or numbness in your hand, arm, or shoulders; or if you’re having difficulty grasping objects, you should see a doctor that’s very knowledgeable about CTS. Sometimes even the tests that are run to diagnose CTS can be wrong, and miss a case. So it’s important that your doctor is experienced in seeing the signs and is able to properly diagnose and treat your CTS.
Treatment is focused on reducing the swelling and relieving the nerve pressure. Catching the condition in its earliest stages can be very helpful in treating it more easily and quickly, and without surgery. If it has not gotten too severe, your doctor may prescribe a splint, and/or anti-inflammatory medications to help reduce swelling and relieve pressure. More severe cases can require cortisone injections or surgery. The surgery is fairly common and not too invasive.
Regardless of the treatment plan, if your CTS is related to your work activity, workers’ compensation benefits should reimburse you for your medical costs, including co-payments and out of pocket expenses. You should also be able to recover lost wages for the missed work time your treatment requires.
Hiring a lawyer who is highly experienced in workers’ compensation law and in particular hand and wrist injuries, will help you be sure that you are getting the maximum benefits that are allowed under Illinois law for your injury. If you would like to find out more about what may be due for your injury, or have any questions, please contact us. Our lawyers are highly experienced in this area and would be happy to help you.
We are workers' compensation attorneys that help people with Illinois work injuries anywhere in IL via our statewide network of attorneys. Contact us and we will answer your questions or find the right lawyer for your situation.
