Carpal tunnel syndrome is a very painful condition in your hands/wrists that can make it incredibly difficult to perform your duties at work. What if you got it because of those work duties you perform during the week? That reason alone could mean you can get workers’ compensation benefits while you recover from the pain of the injury. Let’s take a look at how you can be successful at filing a claim for workers’ compensation after being diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome.
TL;DR:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome basics: A painful wrist/hand condition caused by compression of the median nerve, often due to inflammation of tendons.
- Common cause: Repetitive motions (typing, tool use, lifting, etc.) that put ongoing strain on the wrist.
- Work-related eligibility: You may qualify for workers’ compensation if your job duties directly caused the condition.
- High-risk jobs: Roles like data entry, administrative work, trucking, cooking, janitorial work, and mechanical labor.
- Key requirement for claims: You must prove the injury is work-related—this is the main factor insurers evaluate.
- Medical evidence needed: Get an official diagnosis plus supporting tests (e.g., imaging, exams).
- Build your case: Document your job duties and identify which repetitive tasks likely caused the injury.
- Legal help: Working with a workers’ compensation lawyer can improve your chances of a successful claim.
What is carpal tunnel?
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition where the nerves and tendons surrounding your wrist are compressed. The syndrome occurs when the median nerve is compressed by repeated pressure. The median nerve is the one in your hand that controls the movement and feeling in your fingers.
The tendons in the carpal tunnel at the bottom of the hand become enflamed or swell up, which puts pressure on the median nerve. This results in some serious pain for you in your hands. This is considered a repetitive stress injury, especially for those of us who type behind a computer desk for long periods of time or lift/bend repeatedly.
When is it considered a work-related injury?
In North Carolina, workers’ compensation benefits will only cover the injuries that come as a direct result of the daily activities at your place of employment. Because of that, there are certain activities you may be doing on a daily basis that can cause carpal tunnel syndrome to be covered by workers’ comp. Some of these activities include using a computer keyboard, using tools that cause vibrations in your hands, drilling/mining, using a cash register, and performing mechanical work.
The most common types of jobs that may lead to carpal tunnel quickly are chefs, truck drivers, janitors, data entry employees, and administrative assistants. If you have carpal tunnel syndrome that you can prove you got from your job, you need to look into getting workers’ compensation benefits during your recovery from your carpal tunnel.
Carpal Tunnel Workers’ Compensation Claims
One of the biggest things you need to look out for when filing a claim for workers’ compensation benefits is proving the injury happened because of your work duties. This is what the insurance company will be looking for specifically when looking over your claim. There are other items you need to have in writing when filing a claim with the assistance of a qualified lawyer. The first thing is having a medical professional examine you for an official diagnosis of your problem.
Once you have that diagnosis, you need more proof that it is carpal tunnel in the form of x-rays, other medical tests, imaging, among other procedures. After you get the documentation you need to prove you have carpal tunnel syndrome in one of your hands, you must look at the duties you perform
to figure out which of them most likely caused the condition to develop. Once you have this information and evidence compiled, you have what you need to be successful with the workers’ compensation claim.
Contact Our Greenville, NC Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
I’m Brian Ricci, a workers’ compensation lawyer in Greenville, NC. If you or a loved one
has sustained an injury at work, please call me at please call me at (252) 777-2222 or 800-387-6406 for free, friendly advice.
I am a longtime member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
Take a look at our Past Verdicts and Settlements page and our many Testimonials.