Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Is It Covered By Workers’ Comp?

You feel a tingling in your hands only to visit your doctor and learn that you have carpal tunnel syndrome. The cost of surgery ranges from $2,713 to $4,196. How will you ever be able to afford that? Fortunately, most employees can get workers’ compensation to cover carpal tunnel syndrome. However, there are exceptions where an employee will not be eligible for workers’ compensation for this condition.

When Won’t Workers’ Compensation Pick It Up?

To receive workers’ compensation, you should first acquaint yourself with the laws of your state. In some states, they have designated a specific dollar amount for those who have carpal tunnel syndrome. In other states, they base the compensation amount on the severity of your injury. To be eligible for workers’ compensation, you have to have developed the condition due to repetitive tasks at your job.

The Extent of the Problem

Every year, doctors diagnose three million workers with carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel syndrome lists as one of the most common work-related illness and injury claims. In some cases, you may struggle to recover compensation because carpal tunnel syndrome happens over time. You may find it difficult to prove if your work environment doesn’t involve repetitive tasks.

Understand What You Give Up

In agreeing to take workers’ compensation from your employer, you should understand how, by doing so, you forfeit your right to file a lawsuit against them. On the other hand, lawsuits for carpal tunnel syndrome can prove tricky, and you may find it better to agree to workers’ comp. When you take workers’ compensation and waive your right to sue, they call this the “compensation bargain.”

Symptoms of Workers’ Compensation

Carpal tunnel syndrome can negatively impact one or both hands. It may start with the left hand and gradually spread to the right hand. Carpal tunnel syndrome makes you feel like your fingers have swollen, despite no swelling.

The symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include:

• Numbness in the hands
• Pain in the wrists and hands
• Poor grip and weakness in the hands

Most commonly, carpal tunnel syndrome happens when employees perform the same tasks over and over. In the early stages of the condition, your fingers may feel numbness or tingling. However, the problem worsens over time, and untreated, it can become quite debilitating.

What Treatments Do They Have?

There are several treatments available that can alleviate or cure carpal tunnel syndrome, and they include:

• Splinting
• Surgery
• Steroid injections
• Physical therapy

You want to address carpal tunnel syndrome as soon as possible. Left unchecked it could progress to the point where your thumb deteriorates so badly that this extremity can no longer tell the difference between hot and cold.

What Does Workers’ Comp Include?

Workers’ comp includes three key things. First, it includes covering your medical bills. This covers the surgery, rehabilitation, and medical equipment. Second, it will give you temporary disability benefits, which will cover missed work. On the days that you miss work, you will miss out on earnings, which would set you back without this coverage.

Recovery from carpal tunnel surgery ranges anywhere from several weeks up to several months. Third, it can cover you with a permanent disability if you never fully recover from carpal tunnel syndrome.

Workers’ compensation covers the vast majority of all workplace injuries, and this includes carpal tunnel syndrome. Before looking at a claim for workers’ compensation, they will determine if the work involves repetitive movements. Repetition could indicate the reason for someone developing carpal tunnel syndrome.

Unfortunately, many workplace activities involve repetitive movements. These actions can cause the employee to develop carpal tunnel syndrome as a result.

About the Author:

Kyle Hambright is a passionate writer proudly representing Pintas & Mullins Law Firm. He has focused his legal career on personal injury cases, and throughout his practice, Kyle has helped people from all walks of life. This determination transpires in his writings as well. His articles translate the complex web of legal jargon into accessible text. Readers not only gain a firm grasp on theory, but they also learn how to put it into practice.