Worker’s Comp and Carpal Tunnel Disability: Making a Claim

What is Carpal Tunnel?

Carpal tunnel occurs when your hands, wrists, and forearms become sore after repetitive use. Certain motions will inflame the muscles and ligaments in those areas of your body, pressing into a nerve and making it painful to do otherwise mundane tasks like typing or texting.

That is not to say that you can’t suffer from carpal tunnel caused by other illnesses. Anything that causes inflammation in your body can affect your arms, wrists, and hands, causing pain even if you haven’t engaged in a long-term repetitive motion.

Treatment can include simple anti-inflammatory medications and stretching. In severe cases, surgery may be required to adjust the ligaments so that they aren’t pressing up against your nerves. This will all depend on the severity of your condition, but medical treatment can be costly – which is why it’s important to explore if you’re covered under workers’ compensation.

How To Apply For Carpal Tunnel Disability

Unlike most other types of workers’ compensation, carpal tunnel injury is not a sudden injury. Instead, it can only occur after continued and consistent irritation. This means that the application process for workers’ compensation is a little different.

You need to notify your employer as soon as you experience any symptoms. You’ll have to estimate when those symptoms first popped up.

After that, you’ll need to file out the workers’ compensation claim. In New York, your doctor will file a claim with the Workers’ Compensation Board, so you don’t have to pay out of pocket.

In most states including New York, you will have to prove that the pain you are experiencing was caused by your job duties and not a hobby. If you spend a lot of time knitting or playing computer games, for example, your claim could be disputed or denied.

Your employer may decide to fight the claim in some cases. If this happens, it’s important to work with a lawyer experienced with workers’ compensation claims. They’ll be able to walk you through the process and build the best possible case so you can get the treatment you need.

File Your Claim As Early As Possible

Carpal tunnel syndrome can be debilitating, but it is a perfectly treatable affliction. Don’t wait and see if it will get better – carpal tunnel disability can get you the care you need at no cost to you. File a workers’ compensation claim as soon as possible to start your medical treatment.

If you’re in New York and suffering from work-related carpal tunnel syndrome, call 1-800-897-8440 and touch with our team today. We’ll be able to connect you to an authorized workers’ comp doctor to start your medical treatment right away.