Nerve damage is not only painful, but it can be very disruptive to your life. You might be unable to work as you physically recover and incur expensive medical bills in the process. To ensure compensation for these damages, let our lawyers handle your case and recovery. Damages will likely come from a Workers’ Compensation claim, so tell your employer about an injury right away.
Ulnar neuropathy and other nerve damage can happen over time from continuous use or instantly from a traumatic event. As soon as you notice persistent pain in your elbow, wrist, or hand, get assessed. Doctors can diagnose nerve damage, and early intervention can prevent it from worsening. Ulnar neuropathy may keep you from working for weeks or months, and we can ensure you get lost income and medical benefits during that time.
Call the Law Office of John J. Sheehan at (617) 925-6407 for a free case evaluation from our attorneys for work-related nerve damage.
How Do You Get Work-Related Nerve Damage?
Professions that frequently see work-related nerve damage and ulnar neuropathy specifically include construction workers, electricians, and assembly line workers.
Repetitive Use
Compression of the ulnar nerve through repetitive motions may cause work-related nerve damage. The ulnar nerve runs from the elbow into the hand, so it is used in many types of laborious work on construction sites and manufacturing plants.
Trauma
Direct trauma to the elbow or wrist while working may also cause ulnar neuropathy. Falls, crushing accidents, and other workplace incidents might cause immediate nerve damage.
Sudden nerve trauma may be very painful at first and may accompany other injuries. Go to the hospital after a major accident to initiate medical records.
Can You Sue for Work-Related Nerve Damage in Massachusetts?
If you suffer work-related nerve damage or another injury on the job, Workers’ Compensation may be your exclusive remedy. Workers can typically only sue third parties, not their employers.
Since ulnar neuropathy is generally a repetitive motion injury, you might sustain it during the course of your normal work and not from one specific incident.
Workers’ Compensation is a no-fault system, so we do not have to find anyone to blame necessarily for you to get damages. Workers’ Compensation does limit available damages to medical expenses and a portion of lost wages, while third-party lawsuits may also cover pain and suffering.
Suppose you suffered ulnar neuropathy because of a traumatic accident, such as equipment exploding and damaging the nerve. When someone other than your employer or a peer is at fault, like an equipment manufacturer, you may file a lawsuit against them.
Because ulnar neuropathy typically happens through routine use, Workers’ Compensation is the main remedy for injured employees.
How to Document Ulnar Neuropathy After a Workplace Accident in Massachusetts
Symptoms of ulnar neuropathy include weakness, pain, tingling, and numbness. You might lose feeling in some of your fingers, and symptoms may come and go. If you notice pain in your wrists or elbow that keeps popping up, get assessed. If you are diagnosed with ulnar neuropathy and you cannot work while you heal, you must tell your employer.
This starts your Workers’ Compensation case, so do not wait to tell your boss about nerve damage. Do not try to work with ulnar neuropathy if your doctor warns you not to. If you return to work too soon, your claim may be jeopardized.
You may document work-related nerve damage with different specialists, like neurologists, orthopedic surgeons, and even physical therapists. Medical evidence proves how and when you became injured. Do not wait to get assessed if you notice any pain, especially if you constantly use your elbows, wrists, and hands while working.
Other signs of ulnar neuropathy or nerve damage in general include cold sensitivity, burning sensations, and coordination issues.
How Long Does Ulnar Neuropathy Last?
Your recovery time from ulnar neuropathy depends on the severity of the nerve damage. Some injuries may heal in several weeks, while others may take many months. Regardless of how long your injury lasts, our attorneys for work-related nerve damage can help you get fair compensation.
You qualify for Workers’ Compensation if ulnar neuropathy or another injury makes you miss five or more full or partial days from work.
You may not be able to work at all while nerve damage heals, entitling you to temporary total incapacity benefits. Payments equal to 66% of your average weekly wage before the injury, and you will also get paid for any crucial medical care.
Medical benefits last indefinitely, while lost-wage benefits have a shelf life. Suppose you get temporary total incapacity benefits for ulnar neuropathy or another repetitive motion injury. In that case, payments last up to 156 weeks. If your condition improves sooner and you can return to work, your lost-wage benefits will end.
How Do You Treat Work-Related Nerve Damage in Massachusetts?
Depending on the severity of the nerve damage and its location, injured employees may require different treatment. For some, bracing is required, and for others, intense physical therapy is necessary.
What matters is getting the right treatment plan and sticking to it. Your employer’s Workers’ Compensation carrier may periodically request updated medical records, and not providing them might lead to a loss of benefits.
Other treatments include pain management medications, electrical stimulation therapies, and surgeries. The sooner you catch ulnar neuropathy or other nerve damage, the better you may respond to treatments. Early intervention is paramount for both your physical and financial recovery, so do not ignore any newfound pain in your elbow, wrist, or anywhere else.
Along with the right treatment, you need time to heal from nerve damage. Do not push yourself physically, rush your return to work, or risk further injury in any way.
Call Our Work Injury Lawyers in Massachusetts Now
Call (617) 925-6407 for a free case review from our attorneys for work-related nerve damage at the Law Office of John J. Sheehan.