If you have a job that requires constant hand movements, you are at high risk for developing carpal tunnel syndrome, a painful condition that causes finger and hand stiffness and difficult movements. Many workers who develop work-related injuries like carpal tunnel file workers’ compensation claims that cover medical bills and lost wages due to time away from work. If you have carpal tunnel and plan to file a claim, you may need to ask your lawyer, “What is the average settlement for carpal tunnel?”
If you have work-related carpal tunnel, the Naperville lawyers at Chute, O’Malley, Knobloch, and Turcy, LLC can get you a fair settlement. Call 312-775-0042.
Table of Contents
What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a painful condition that affects the fingers and hands. It is caused by pressure on the median nerve in the carpal tunnel of the wrist. The carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway on the palm side of the hand that’s surrounded by bones and ligaments. When the median nerve in the carpal tunnel is compressed, it causes numbness or pain, weakness, and difficult movements in the fingers and hands.
The symptoms of carpal tunnel begin gradually with pain and stiffness in the wrist and hands. As the condition progresses, the fingers are impacted with pain and difficult movements. Common symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include:
Numbness and Tingling
Carpal tunnel causes numbness and tingling that often occurs in the fingers or the hands. Typically, the thumb, index, middle, and ring fingers are affected, but not the little finger. Some people experience a feeling like an electric shock in the affected fingers. This sensation often occurs while holding or griping an object like a book, frying pan, phone, or car steering wheel. Some people have sensations strong enough to wake them from sleep. The electric shock sensation can also travel from the wrist up the arm through the median nerve.
Weakness
Carpal tunnel often creates weakness in the wrists and hands, possibly due to pinched muscles controlled by the median nerve. It’s not uncommon for people with carpal tunnel to drop things that they pick up. The heavier the object, the greater the chances of dropping it, because of the pain and lack of strength in the wrist. Weakness in the wrists and hands may be accompanied by pain that feels like a constant ache or a sharp, burning stab. Pain and weakness makes the hand and fingers feel clumsy and less able to perform precise motions like buttoning a shirt, turning a key, or writing a note.
What Are the Risk Factors?
Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most common hand conditions, especially in workers who perform jobs that require repetitive hand motions. In Illinois, workers’ compensation lawyers commonly handle cases involving work-related injuries. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 4.8 million people have a new diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome every year. Currently, 5.8% of the population has carpal tunnel syndrome, 16% of workers have symptoms of repetitive stress injury, and 81% of clerical workers have carpal tunnel.
Any person can develop carpal tunnel syndrome, but people who do repetitive motions with their wrists and hands every day are much more likely to get a repetitive motion injury. Certain workers are especially prone to developing carpal tunnel, such as:
- Car mechanics
- Carpenters and painters
- Construction workers
- Chefs and food workers
- Clerical and computer workers
- Hair stylists and barbers
The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) says the problem of carpal tunnel syndrome is on a steep rise. Certain occupations have a higher risk of causing hand pain and are more prone to have employees lose job time. Currently, carpal tunnel is the 4th most often diagnosed condition and carpal tunnel release surgery is the 2nd most performed surgery in the US.
Steps to Take After Developing Carpal Tunnel
If you suspect that you have carpal tunnel syndrome, there are steps you should take as soon as possible to keep your condition from getting worse.
See a Doctor
Many types of doctors see and treat patients who have carpal tunnel syndrome or symptoms of the condition. The most common types of doctors that see patients include:
- Primary care health care providers like family doctors and rheumatologists
- Neurologists who diagnose and treat nerve disorders
- Neurosurgeons who specialize in peripheral nerve disorders
- Orthopedic surgeons who treat bone, joint, ligament, and muscle injuries
- Occupational and physical therapists
- Pain management specialists
Get a Medical Diagnosis
Early diagnosis and treatment of carpal tunnel is essential to avoid further damage to the median nerve. A medical diagnosis for carpal tunnel usually includes:
- Physical Exam – Your doctor will examine your hands, arms, shoulders, and neck to determine if your symptoms are related to daily activities or to another disorder, Your wrist will be examined to see if tapping or pressing on the median nerve, or flexing your wrist causes a numbing or tingling sensation. Your fingers will be tested for sensation, and your muscles at the base of your hand will be tested for strength and signs of atrophy or weakening.
- Laboratory Tests and X-rays – Your doctor may choose to order laboratory tests and x-rays to look for bone fractures, nerve damage, signs of arthritis, or nerve-damaging diseases like diabetes.
- Electric Signal Tests – If your physical exam or laboratory tests don’t provide enough information, your doctor may order a nerve conduction study to measure signals along the median nerve, or an ultrasound to see if your median nerve is swollen.
Treat the Condition
Nonsurgical treatments can improve the symptoms of carpal tunnel in the short term, but they do not treat the underlying problem with the median nerve or lead to long term improvements in your symptoms.
- Splinting/Bracing – Using a splint on the hand and wrist at night is a common initial treatment option for carpal tunnel
- Steroid injection – An injection of steroid into your carpal tunnel can temporarily alleviate symptoms
Managing Carpal Tunnel Symptoms
- Take medications prescribed by your doctor
- Wear a splint on your hand and wrist at night
- Use ice packs as needed
- Minimize repetitive movements
- Take short breaks when doing repetitive tasks with your hands
- Use ergonomically designed tools when possible
Determining the Value of a Carpal Tunnel Settlement
Many workers’ compensation claims for work-related injuries are resolved through settlements between the injured worker, the employer, and the insurance company. Instead of going to court, all parties agree on a lump sum or structured payment plan to cover the injured worker’s medical bills, lost wages, and other related expenses.
- Lump-Sum Settlement – The injured worker receives a one-time payment covering all future medical expenses and lost wages. This type of settlement provides immediate financial relief.
- Structured Settlement: The injured worker receives a series of payments over time instead of one large sum. This ensures a steady income for a set period.
Average Carpal Tunnel Settlement Amount
The value of a workers’ compensation settlement for carpal tunnel syndrome depends on factors including the severity of the condition, the length of disability or inability to work, medical expenses, and the impact on work and daily life.
In Illinois, carpal tunnel is covered under workers’ compensation laws, but there have been changes. Compensation awarded for carpal tunnel claim payouts is now limited to 15% of the loss of use of a hand. An exception to this change is if there is clear and convincing evidence of further disability, in which case the upper limit is set at 30% of the loss of use of the hand. The new law does not limit awards for carpal tunnel syndrome caused by crush injuries or blunt trauma, such as one caused by falling on an outstretched arm or by otherwise putting pressure on the palm or wrist. If the worker can show that he or she is not able to return to the previous job, the worker may show proof of permanent or total disability.
Eligibility for Workers’ Compensation Benefits
Who is eligible for workers’ compensation? To claim workers’ compensation benefits for carpal tunnel syndrome, a worker must show that his or her job duties contributed to a worsening condition. The worker must also have a valid medical diagnosis from a doctor that supports carpal tunnel syndrome and report the injury to his or her employer within the required time frame.