Remember you can also do a search from the top of this Board, type Carpal Tunnel / or CTS, I'm sure there were others with this. Might be some good reading.
Article from 2005;
http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/nat.../62979.htm
Injury to the wrist area can cause swelling of the tissues and carpal tunnel syndrome. This type of injury may be caused by sports such as racquetball and handball, or occur during sewing, typing, driving, assembly-line work, painting, writing, use of tools (especially hand tools or tools that vibrate), or similar activities.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/...000433.htm
Injury to the wrist can lead to it.
http://www.arthritis.ca/types%20of%20art...efault.asp
http://www.curehandpain.com/
http://www.workerscompensationinsurance....robins.htm
Nautica,
I had the surgery in 1998. The lawyers on the ic side are trying to say it is from my surgery 10 yrs. ago. I was fine and able to work all those years with off and on symptoms or recurring. They would come and go. The swelling, numbness etc. As I worked harder with my hands , 10 hours a day, routine repetition, it got worse. It was a pre-existing injury that I did not blame on anyone and had the surgery in 98.
When I went to the hearing, they were trying to blame the hospital I worked for when I had the surgery. I never claimed it workers comp. When i had my pre-employment physical before I worked at this hospital I am claiming wc, they had record of swelling of my wrist on paper when hired. It was swollen, but did not have difficulty working.
PLEASE get a lawyer and tell your whole story. Get every record to prove that it was a work injury on paper. That is what they are going to want you to prove. I now have nerve damage ( neuropathy) that prevented me from doing my career as a phlebotomist. I cannot open packages, sterile needles, gauze etc. Nor feel veins because of the numbness.
Hopefully you had a emg that showed " mild carpal tunnel". They would want medical proof of injury also. Have you had the surgery yet? Get as many opinions as possible to prove your injury is work related. Good luck.
I've had the EMG and the NCV...both came back positive for bilateral carpal tunnel. You're right about the harder you work the worse it gets...my employer had me working 10-15 hour days...6-7 days a week. I use my hands all the time at my job which is hot and stressful, very fast paced. I was lucky I had time to sleep at all. They'd have been better off setting up a cot for me at work...lol I have been keeping track of my situation since I told my employer. I've got a log of sorts...My employer rejected my claim until they can get a second opinion by another doctor as to whether or not my occupational disease is related to my work activities. Let's see...I'm at work ALL THE TIME..when would I have time to contract an occupational disease?? I've never had problems with my hands until now. Have not heard anything about going to 2nd opinion doc....and my hearing is scheduled for the end of this month. Will hearing be postponed?
Almost forgot...I've been trying to get the claim approved so I can get the surgery. If 2nd opinion doc would do his thing I'll see if my insurance will cover it for the time being so I can start the healing process. Lawyer said it wouldn't affect my claim.
I do not see any reason why that would not be a occupational injury. My recurrance came back when i was working 10 hour days, 5 days a week and constantly hand writing the names etc. on the tubes of blood because the label printer would be broken down more than working.
Try drawing 50 people or more a day at minimum 2 tubes-10 tubes each. Then having to label them with their name/dob/time of draw/test/initials. That is alot of repetition.
I personally think you will be fine with this being a work injury. Good luck in your treatments. Is this a dominant hand injury? Just curious.
My claims adjustor told me the same thing. It's both of my hands. Lots of working with hand tools, vibrating tools, it's a hot, dirty, fast paced work environment. All of my doctor's statements say "work related" but my employer thinks I had it prior to my employment. I've been there 7 months. Before I went back to school for over a year to get certification in my skills. I am in the process of getting statements from co-workers that were aware of my problems earlier in my employment. I have copies of every medical document on me. My employer's 3rd party rep. just started requesting records today. My hearing is scheduled for 7/28/08 and I haven't heard from anyone about the IME. I think my hearing is going to get continued....
Also, the neck is the 1st area the doc checked...but the MRI and x-rays came back negative for anything.
I wouldn't worry either way. (Clue) Even if you did (say) had Carpal Tunnel problems before you worked for them. You mostly had never been treated for. So as you see, your past medical Records will just prove you correct in a work injury.
Sometimes you just have to let all those things being said to you, to go in one ear, and even out faster of the other ear.
Don't worry about the hearing being continued, and don't worry about the IME.
Just know what you should say at an IME, and what not to offer and and say.
When I got notice of my IME it gave me a month before my appointment. Then it took over a month and many phone calls to my adjuster to get the results. Unless they have some miracle to have the IME , get the results back to you , and you to have time to get a second opinion or a back up letter from your treating physician, I do not see how all that will happen before the hearing. I just think that you would need more time to reply to the IME report if it does not work in your favor. It just seems like to much info. is needed before the hearing.
What exactly is the hearing going to be about? Mine was about rating dispute and medications/treatments discontinuance.