Many workers’ compensation claims for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome are denied. But, you can request a hearing and win a Carpal Tunnel claim. To win, you will need the help of your doctor and an experienced lawyer.
What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? The bones and ligaments inside your wrist provide a tunnel for the median nerve and tendons to pass through into your hand. If this tunnel becomes too small, or gets filled up, the median nerve is squashed.
What does Carpal Tunnel Syndrome feel like? You will notice if you start to develop this problem. You’ll feel tingling or numbness after holding something or sleeping. Y ou’ll usually notice the symptoms in every finger except your pinky. It is worse in your thumb, index, and ring fingers. You may be able to shake this feeling away at first, but it will become constant. You’ll have difficulty holding things, and your hand will feel weak.
Why would SAIF deny your claim? Insurance companies, like Liberty and SAIF, may hire doctors to say that it happens because you are overweight, female, or have arthritis or diabetes. These things may be part of the cause. This is probably why your claim was denied. But, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is often caused by using your hands a fingers over and over. It is common in occupations such as carpentry, painting, assembly line and grocery work. When you do repetitive and/or forceful motions at work, your muscles may develop too much or your tendons may become inflamed and fill up the tunnel squashing the nerve.
How Do You Treat Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? If you think you have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome call your doctor right away. You may need therapy, or to change the way you do your work by using different hands or movements. It is better, if you catch the condition in its early stages. However, if you don’t you may need wrist splints: The splint supports your wrist and prevents any further damage, allowing you to heal. You may get injections to reduce swelling in the tunnel to ease the pressure on the nerve. Some people may need surgery.
Carpal Tunnel treatment may cost a lot of money. You may miss working for a long time. You can have Workers’ Compensation pay for your treatment and you time lost from work.
If your claim for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is denied, you should contact an experienced workers’ comp lawyer.