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The Myth of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Receiving Compensation

Some people believe that carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is just weakness in the hand that will go away, when in fact it can be a serious medical condition. CTS can affect workers of all occupations. From aviation workers handling machinery that repetitively jars the hand and wrist, to receptionists who type on a computer all day, almost anyone can develop this condition. If you have developed CTS, you may be need time off work to recover from your injury or a change in work habits.

There is a misconception about CTS and receiving benefits. While it is not often that Social Security will approve a carpal tunnel case, applicants with a personal injury attorney have been successful at proving their case and receiving benefits.

Treatment for CTS is often successful and will relieve pain and symptoms. Treatments include wearing a splint on the affected wrist, making changes to your work environment to alleviate symptoms, taking medication and even surgery. However, treatment does not always cure CTS. When this happens, you may be left with permanent weakness, numbness, and tingling.

Social Security is a system designed to help those who are left unable to work, whether that be temporarily or permanently. When you are left with permanent disabilities due to CTS, you may have a case. In order to receive these benefits, you must prove certain criteria.

Proving Disability for CTS

When attempting to prove disability for carpal tunnel, you can either try to meet or “equal” an impairment listing or provide medical evidence.

To meet or equal impairment, you must prove that carpal tunnel is a symptom of one of the following impairments:

  • Diabetes
  • Arthritis
  • Lupus
  • Schleroderma
  • Kidney failure

Proving CTS with medical evidence can be difficult. Diagnosing carpal tunnel entails three elements. You must show:

    1. Signs of characteristic symptoms
    2. Specific physical evidence
    3. Abnormal electrodiagnostic test results

There are many tests available to test for carpal tunnel. Although proving a medical diagnosis is important to your case, you must also prove that you are disabled from work

Because carpal tunnel cases are so complex, it is wise to consult with your Wichita personal injury attorney before trying to file a Social Security case on your own.

At Ray Hodge & Associates, we believe in personal injury handled personally. at our office you see a lawyer from the very first meeting because we believe your case deserves an experience personal injury attorney right from the start.

If you have had a Kansas work injury that was not your fault and need medical treatment, you need an experienced professional who can help you get back on the road to recovery. Call us today at 316-269-1414 or visit our contact page here. Our Kansas personal injury attorneys will provide you a free initial consultation and if we take your case you don’t pay a dime unless we recover money for you. Even then we only take a percentage of the total amount of your recovery.

If you have questions on what you should be looking for when you are making a decision to hire a Kansas personal injury lawyer, read our article located here.

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Ray Hodge & Associates proudly represents victims and their families across the state of Kansas, including Wichita, Andover, Derby, Goddard, Haysville, Mulvane, Rose Hill, Newton, El Dorado and Hutchinson. Call today for a free consultation all over the state of Kansas. We have proudly served clients in Sedgwick, Butler, Sumner, Harvey, Kingman and Reno Counties.