Cubital Tunnel Syndrome in the Auto Industry
Chicago Lawyers for Workers’ Compensation Claims
The ulnar nerve travels along the inner side of the elbow. When you have cubital tunnel syndrome, it means that your ulnar nerve or funny bone nerve has been stretched or pressed upon. This can result in tingling and numbness and pain in your hand or forearm. If you develop cubital tunnel syndrome in an auto industry job, you may be able to obtain workers’ benefits. You can consult an experienced Chicago workers’ compensation attorney about your situation.
Cubital Tunnel Syndrome in the Auto Industry
Cubital tunnel syndrome may be the result of the nerve undergoing direct pressure, such as being pressed for long periods of time. It can also be the result of keeping an elbow bent for a long period and not stretching it out. Additionally, there are differences in anatomy such that every time someone moves an elbow, the ulnar nerve snaps over a bone repeatedly. There can also be a thickening of soft tissues over the nerve that stop it from working appropriately.
If you experience cubital tunnel syndrome based on your work in the auto industry, you might experience pain, sensation loss, weakness, and tingling. You may suffer pins and needles because the elbow is bent for a period of time. You might feel clumsy. You should see a doctor and the doctor may conduct an examination. Sometimes doctors order nerve testing to determine the extent to which the nerve and muscle are affected. The nerve test will also look at whether you have a pinched nerve that produces the same symptoms as cubital tunnel syndrome.
Often you’ll need to avoid any actions that trigger symptoms, which may mean you need to take time off work. You may also need to wear a splint or undergo hand therapy. There are severe cases in which it may be necessary to undergo surgery in which pressure is removed from the nerve. That can entail moving the nerve, releasing the nerve or taking part of the bone out. Subsequent to surgery, you may need to undergo therapy. Where symptoms are very severe, surgery may not completely eliminate the cubital tunnel symptoms, which means you may never go back to work in the same capacity.
Illinois Workers’ Compensation Benefits
Many auto industry workers need to use their hands and arms substantial amounts while working. The ulnar nerve is not protected as much as other nerves, so cubital tunnel syndrome is more common on the job than some other nerve-related injuries. Often, cubital tunnel syndrome arises due to repetitive trauma. This means a workers’ compensation insurer will likely resist your claim, look for other reasons you may have developed cubital tunnel syndrome, and may issue a denial. If your injuries were caused in whole or in part by your job in the auto industry, you should be able to get benefits for cubital tunnel syndrome. While a workers’ compensation insurer may deny your claim on the grounds of a pre-existing condition, you should be aware that so long as the condition was exacerbated or aggravated by your job, you are entitled to benefits. A dedicated work injury lawyer can help you pursue a claim.
Benefits can include medical bills, rehabilitation expenses, disability benefits, and vocational rehabilitation. There are different types of disability benefits including permanent total disability benefits, permanent partial disability benefits, and temporary disability benefits. These are calculated differently; for example, temporary total disability benefits are calculated as 2/3 your average weekly wage. It may be possible to get a surgery for cubital tunnel syndrome and the rehabilitation needed afterward covered by workers’ compensation.
Consult a Skillful Workers’ Compensation Attorney in Chicago
Those who suffer cubital tunnel syndrome on the job in the auto industry in Chicago may be able to obtain workers’ compensation benefits. At Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca, our lawyers represent injured auto workers in Aurora, Quincy, Champaign, and Rockford, as well as Kane, Adams, Winnebago, Sangamon, and Cook Counties. Contact us at 312-724-5846 or by completing our contact form.