If you spend most of your workday typing or using your hands, you might notice that your hands or fingers start to feel numb over time. You might also notice that your hands and fingers are not as strong as they used to be or that you get a pins-and-needles feeling in your limbs. These are all symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, which affects thousands of workers across the U.S. every year. If you’re one of them, you may wonder: Can you get workers’ comp for carpal tunnel?
Oklahoma workers who have developed carpal tunnel syndrome due to their job might be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. However, claiming these benefits can be challenging without help from an Oklahoma City workers’ compensation attorney. Contact us to learn more about our workers’ compensation lawyer for carpal tunnel syndrome and how the team at Ryan Bisher Ryan & Simons can help you with your case.
What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a repetitive stress injury affecting the arms, hands, and fingers. In most cases, carpal tunnel results from repeatedly performing the same hands-oriented task over time. Many instances of carpal tunnel syndrome are caused by excessive typing, though that is not the only way these injuries can occur.
How Is Carpal Tunnel Caused?
Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by pressure on a nerve in your wrist. This pressure can build over time and eventually damage the nerve, causing pain, loss of sensation, and other symptoms in the arms and hands.
Some workers who are particularly at risk for carpal tunnel syndrome include:
- Office workers
- Construction workers
- Manufacturing and assembly line workers
- Nurses and some other healthcare workers
- Seamstresses and tailors
Aside from your job, some other factors may put you at greater risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome, such as:
- Improper typing techniques and other ergonomic issues
- A family history of carpal tunnel syndrome
- A prior wrist injury
- Certain medical conditions, such as arthritis and diabetes
- Pregnancy
In many cases, you can treat carpal tunnel syndrome on your own with rest, over-the-counter pain medication, wearing a wrist splint, or strengthening your hands using certain exercises. However, if your injury is especially severe, you may need wrist surgery or more aggressive treatments. These treatments can be expensive, which is one reason why you should seek workers’ compensation benefits for carpal tunnel syndrome.
Can I Claim Workers’ Comp for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Oklahoma law allows workers to claim workers’ compensation benefits for repetitive stress injuries, including carpal tunnel syndrome. However, before you can claim any carpal tunnel workers’ comp benefits, you will need to show that:
- Your injury keeps you from working.
- The injury occurred in the course of employment because of your job.
- You are covered by your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance.
A knowledgeable Oklahoma City workers’ comp lawyer can help determine if you’re eligible for benefits and secure the evidence to prove it.
What’s Covered Under Workers’ Compensation for Carpal Tunnel?
There are several types of benefits that may be available to you if you develop carpal tunnel syndrome because of your job. These benefits include:
- Medical benefits– If your claim is approved, your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance will cover all reasonable and necessary medical treatment related to your injury. These benefits will last either until you fully recover from your injury or your doctor says you have reached the point where further treatment will not make any meaningful difference in your condition. This is known as “maximum medical improvement” (MMI).
- Temporary Disability benefits – If you cannot work after your injury, you are eligible for temporary disability benefits. These benefits are paid weekly and are set at 70 percent of your average weekly wages before the injury, up to a cap set by state law. You can also receive partial disability benefits if you can only return to alternative work at lower wages.
- Vocational rehabilitation– If your carpal tunnel syndrome is so severe that you have trouble doing your job, you may be eligible for vocational rehabilitation benefits. In vocational rehabilitation, you are taught new skills to help you find a new job that accommodates your injury.
These benefits can make a substantial difference when dealing with carpal tunnel syndrome. Talk to an Oklahoma City workers’ compensation lawyer if you want to know more about what benefits you may be eligible for.
How to Prove Carpal Tunnel Was Caused by a Workplace Injury
You will need strong evidence to support your claim for workers’ compensation benefits after developing carpal tunnel syndrome. This evidence must establish that your injury is related to your job and significantly affects your ability to work. Valuable evidence may include:
- Your medical records
- Testimony from your doctor and other healthcare providers
- Lab tests and diagnostic images, such as X-rays and CT scans
- Nerve conduction test results
If your initial claim is denied, you can request a hearing with an administrative law judge. This is where having a skilled workers’ comp attorney can be especially valuable, as claims can be harder to win after being denied.
Talk to Our Skilled Workers’ Compensation Attorneys in Oklahoma City Now
Proving any workers’ compensation claim can be difficult in Oklahoma — especially for claims related to carpal tunnel syndrome. The experienced workers’ comp lawyers at Ryan Bisher Ryan & Simons can help you gather the evidence you need and file the necessary paperwork so you can claim your benefits as soon as possible. If your claim is denied, we can represent you as you appeal the decision. Contact us today for a free consultation and tell us about your situation.
We are Ryan Bisher Ryan & Simons, a legal firm that, for decades, has been fighting for the rights of hardworking Oklahoma residents. Our mission is to hold the powerful accountable.
