Workplace Injury: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Are your hands involved in repetitive activities at work, such as keyboarding, construction work, power tool usage, assembly line work, or the playing of a musical instrument? Have those activities contributed to a diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome? If so, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation to deal with medical and rehabilitation costs, as well as lost income. If you are considering filing a claim, don’t hesitate to contact a skilled Tampa lawyer for help.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Perhaps diagnosed more frequently than any other nerve disorder, carpal tunnel syndrome has been identified in millions of Americans today. Seen more often in women than in men, carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a musculoskeletal disorder that occurs when the median nerve is compressed in the carpal tunnel canal. The result may be aching, tingling, or numbness and burning of the hand or fingers. Ultimately, sufferers experience difficulty with strength and grip in the hand.
Cause and Effect: The Workplace and Carpal Tunnel
OSHA acknowledges that repetitive motion may lead to carpal tunnel syndrome, and provides employers with recommendations to assist in decreasing the work-related incidences of this condition.
The National Institute of Health instructs that workplace conditioning – or the lack thereof– may impact the development of carpal tunnel syndrome. Simple stretching exercises, fingerless gloves, regular and frequent breaks, and wrist splints may all have a positive impact on wrist health. The NIH suggests that rotating job responsibilities, encouraging proper posture, and training in ergonomics may all benefit employees at risk for carpal tunnel syndrome.
Many employers fail to take advantage of such interventions on behalf of employees, and even when they do, workers required to engage in repetitive motion may still experience carpal tunnel syndrome at some point in their careers.
Your Workers’ Compensation Claim
Florida law provides for two years from the time of your diagnosis to file a workers’ compensation claim. At that point, workers’ compensation, your employer’s insurance against workplace injury, has an obligation to pay for adequate medical care and financial support while you recover.
Now What?
Have you been diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome? Do you believe your work-related activities are responsible for your condition? If so, it is best if you file a worker’s compensation claim before seeking medical treatment for your condition.
If you have concerns about your workers’ compensation claim, or about your employer’s response to your claim, you are not alone. The experienced, dedicated workers’ compensation lawyers at Barbas, Nunez, Sanders, Butler & Hovsepian have fought these battles before, and they can help you with the mountains of paperwork and legal maneuvering involved in the pursuit of a financial remedy for your medical difficulties.
Get the remuneration you deserve after your workplace injury. Contact our Tampa office today for a confidential consultation.
