When you think of a work injury, you may envision a traumatic event such as a fall. However, other damage to the body can occur while you perform your job that you do not know about until it becomes a problem.
Repetitive use injuries are some of the most painful and common in the workplace. Before writing off that hand pain as something you have to put up with, learn how it may qualify you for workers’ compensation benefits.
How does your job cause hand pain?
Most workers use their arms and hands in some way on the job. If you find yourself ending your day with aches and pains that make it difficult to use your hands, some element of your job may cause it. Some professions are more prone to repetitive use of the hands, such as:
- Administrative typist
- Construction
- Factory assembly
- Dental hygenist
Each of these requires continual and repetitive use of the hands that may lead to carpal tunnel syndrome.
What is carpal tunnel syndrome?
When your hands continue using the same muscles day in and out, the pressure on them may cause inflammation inside the forearm. The result is that your median nerve becomes compressed, and you may start to notice that your hands ache or feel stiff. Rest may help ease the symptoms at first, but the longer you continue without a change in the position of your hands, the worse things get. The ache may worsen and come along with numbness and tingling. If left untreated, carpal tunnel may result in an almost complete loss of grip strength and hand use.
Your doctor can diagnose your carpal tunnel syndrome and attribute it to your everyday job duties. Getting this report is critical to opening a workers’ compensation claim and receiving the requisite medical care the condition requires.