Work-From-Home Carpal Tunnel Claims in Oregon

Carpal tunnel syndrome among work-from-home employees has become much more common since the COVID-19 pandemic. Because so many people became remote workers, and because so much work is done online using keyboards, carpal tunnel syndrome can arise from work performed for your employer from your home.

What is carpal tunnel syndrome? The median nerve runs from your forearm through your wrist and into the palm of your hand. It passes through a tube of rigid ligament and bones at the base of your hand called the carpal tunnel. When that nerve is squeezed or compressed in that location, carpal tunnel syndrome can develop.

Can Work-from-Home Employees Get Workers’ Compensation for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Oregon?

Yes, in many cases. Workers’ compensation insurance generally covers employees whose injuries “arise out of and in the course of” their employment, according to Oregon law. That means if you were performing your job duties when you got hurt, your injury is most likely covered. The location where you were injured typically does not matter as long as your work was the cause of your injury.

Risk Factors for Carpal Tunnel While Working from Home

People who work from home are as susceptible to workplace injuries as those who work in an employer’s facility. Remote employees may be at risk for a work-from-home injury because of:

• Poor ergonomics – When you work remotely, you may not have a desk that is the correct height, a chair that properly supports your lower back, a computer monitor at eye level, or equipment that provides proper wrist positioning.
• Prolonged computer use – Typing for hours and using a mouse can strain the wrists and hands, which can lead to inflammation and nerve compression.
• Repetitive motions of the hands and wrists – Heavy keyboard use increases your risk of acquiring carpal tunnel syndrome or worsening existing symptoms.

Benefits Available in Work-From-Home Carpal Tunnel Claims

Workers’ comp for carpal tunnel syndrome provides the same types of benefits you would get for other injuries, such as:

• Medical care for your work-related injury
• Temporary total disability, which is partial wage replacement for when you must be completely off work
• Money for permanent disabilities
• Vocational retraining or job placement if your injuries prevent you from returning to your old job

How an Oregon Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Can Help

Carpal tunnel injury claims, whether you were injured while working from home or at your employer’s location, are challenging to prove. When you have suffered a carpal tunnel injury at work, you need an experienced Oregon workers’ compensation lawyer like Jodie Anne Phillips Polich, P.C., fighting for the benefits you deserve.

Jodie can file your claim for you and work to seek the full benefits you deserve. If the workers’ compensation insurer argues that your carpal tunnel syndrome is a pre-existing condition or is not work-related, Jodie can obtain your medical records to determine whether she can create a compelling argument showing the progression of your condition, highlighting how your work aggravated or worsened your pre-existing condition.

If you have carpal tunnel syndrome from working remotely, do not try to handle your workers’ compensation claim on your own. Get the help you need from Jodie Anne Phillips Polich, P.C.

Contact our office today for your free consultation.