Should You Take Time Off Work with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

The carpal tunnel is a passageway in the palm of your hand. It houses the median nerve, which controls feeling and function in the palm, wrist, and hand. When this tunnel becomes compressed — typically due to swelling of surrounding tissue — it can cause debilitating pain, tingling, numbness, and weakness from your wrist to your shoulder.

The condition known as carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) affects millions of workers in Portland, Oregon, and throughout the country — especially those whose jobs involve repetitive motion in the fingers, hands, and wrists. It can make it not only painful but impossible to type, operate equipment, grip or carry items, assemble products, or engage in many other work-related activities.

If you suffer from CTS symptoms, you should seek medical advice as soon as possible to avoid the condition becoming worse. You should also consult an experienced Portland workers’ compensation attorney at Jodie Anne Phillips Polich, P.C. In addition to needing medical treatment, you may also need to take time off work. A lawyer from our firm can help you understand your right to receive coverage for your medical costs, workplace accommodations, disability payments, and more.

At Jodie Anne Phillips Polich, P.C., we are dedicated to helping injured workers take their next steps, including workers dealing with the impact of CTS. To learn more about how we can help you, call us at 503-616-2103 or contact us today. We are ready to review your case in a free consultation.

Carpal Tunnel Recovery Time: How Long Should You Rest for CTS?

If you are diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome, it will be important to follow your treatment plan. Depending on the severity of the carpal tunnel pain, the plan may involve minimally invasive surgical treatment, rest, and rehabilitation.

The carpal tunnel release surgery commonly used to treat CTS is an outpatient procedure. A surgeon makes small cuts, or incisions, in the soft tissue surrounding the carpal tunnel, which should ease pressure on the median nerve. A patient typically goes home on the same day as the surgery, and within roughly two weeks, the stitches are removed.

Depending on several factors, including the amount of damage to the nerves and surrounding tissue, the period of rest and rehabilitation after the carpal tunnel decompression surgery — and the amount of time a person must miss work — could last anywhere from just a few weeks to several months. The goal is to allow the tissue to grow back, regain strength in your fingers, hands, and wrists, and allow the carpal tunnel pain to fade.

For instance, if you suffered severe carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms, you may need to avoid the occupational risk factors that caused the condition and undergo physical therapy for an extended period. The recovery period can also be lengthier for your dominant hand than the non-dominant one.

On the other hand, if your condition was not as severe, you respond well to therapy, and you can perform work using a wrist brace and with work restrictions and other workplace accommodations, you could find yourself returning to the job within a month after surgery.

Understanding Work Restrictions for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Because CTS typically results from repetitive movements that aggravate soft tissue in the hands and wrists, it is crucial to follow all doctor-ordered restrictions on your work. Some of the most common work restrictions for workers with CTS require avoiding or reducing repetitive hand movements and other repetitive motions, such as:

• Excessive computer work, typing, or writing
• Lifting and carrying heavy objects
• Using machinery or power tools that frequently vibrate
• Performing any other manual tasks that put stress on the hands and wrists, such as sewing, painting, picking produce, food processing, or assembling products

Ideally, following these work restrictions will prevent the worsening of your CTS symptoms and lead to a much smoother recovery process.

When Should You Take Time Off Work for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Individuals who have been diagnosed with CTS, on average, miss 27 days of work from the onset of the condition to its final treatment, according to a recent study. The severity of the condition and how a person responds to their treatment varies among individuals. So, the amount of time that a person must take time off work will vary as well.

The key to your recovery will be to avoid doing the same work activities that caused your condition to develop or worsen until your doctor determines you are ready to do so. If you fail to follow your doctor’s recommendations, you risk exacerbating the pain, tingling, numbness, weakness, and other CTS symptoms. As a result, you could delay your recovery, require additional treatment, and, ultimately, miss more work.

Carpal Tunnel Brace for Work and Other Workplace Accommodations to Keep Working

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) recognize carpal tunnel syndrome as a disability. Employers must make workplace accommodations such as allowing you to wear a wrist-hand orthotic, wrist splint, or wrist brace to perform your tasks. The brace stabilizes the wrist, which helps to prevent further injury and build strength in the hand and wrist.

Other workplace accommodations could include:

• Ergonomic adjustments that help take pressure off the wrists, such as providing a standing desk
• Use of medication, including steroid or non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs such as naproxen or ibuprofen, to ease pain
• Modified duties which typically involve performing lighter-duty work
• Frequent breaks to take pressure off the wrists and relieve pain
• Reduced hours to allow time for rest or to attend medical appointments

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Work Impacts

Unfortunately, many people who suffer from CTS face adversity in the workplace. For example, an employer may fail to recognize the seriousness of the condition and its impact on a person’s ability to do their job and refuse to recognize that they must take time off work, respect doctor-ordered work restrictions, or allow for workplace accommodations.

Some employers and their insurance companies may dispute whether a person’s work caused the condition. They may challenge the medical coverage and disability benefits the worker is entitled to receive under Oregon workers’ compensation law.

If you believe your employer has taken any of these actions and put your health, your ability to earn income, and your future in jeopardy, or if you need more information about your legal rights if you need to miss work due to your CTS symptoms, call us at 503-616-2103 or contact Jodie Anne Phillips Polich, P.C., without delay. You can speak with an experienced Portland workers’ compensation attorney who will explain your rights and fight to protect them.