Exposure to constant strain on your wrists may result in the development of carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a repetitive stress injury; symptoms include numbness, tingling and pain in the wrists (and sometimes the forearms), reduced muscle control, decrease in grip strength, and a reduction in the normal ability to use your hands. The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that more than eight million Americans are diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome; it accounts for almost half of all work-related injuries. If you suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome related to your job in southern California, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, but you’ll need to obtain the guidance and help of an experienced Los Angeles workers’ compensation attorney.
Women are twice as likely to develop carpal tunnel syndrome as men, and the risks increase with age. It’s thought that carpal tunnel syndrome arises from a combination of factors that increase pressure on the median nerve and surrounding tendons. Being overweight increases the risk; so does pregnancy. Keeping your wrists bent while sleeping, reading, or driving also appears to increase the risk. Certain jobs involving assembly-line work – manufacturing, sewing, cleaning, and meat-packing, for example – can also make people more prone to carpal tunnel syndrome. In other words, for workers performing these jobs, carpal tunnel syndrome may be work-related and compensable under the workers’ compensation system in California.
When employees miss work and lose wages because of on-the-job injuries, they need to receive the appropriate compensation. If you’ve suffered carpal tunnel syndrome or any other injury at your place of work, speak at once with an experienced Los Angeles workers’ compensation attorney. A good workers’ comp lawyer can assess your personal situation, explain your options, and guide you through the mountain of red tape you’ll face when you pursue a workers’ comp claim. Don’t hesitate; if you suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome because of your work anywhere in southern California, protect yourself and contact an experienced Los Angeles workers’ compensation attorney as quickly as possible.