- October 12, 2021
Does tendon sheath inflammation count in worker’s comp coverage? As an employee in North Carolina, you probably know what workers’ compensation entails. First, with help from a Charlotte workers’ comp lawyer, it protects injured employees from going uncompensated after a work-related injury. Secondly, it protects employers from defending against personal injury lawsuits from their injured workers. Again, under workers’ compensation, employees cannot claim damages for pain and suffering.
Many times, injured North Carolina workers sustain their injuries from sudden accidents. For example, a construction worker can fall from a roof and get a bone fracture. In such cases, it’s easy to prove that the injury was work-related. Unfortunately, however, not all injuries can be traced to a single, sudden accident at the workplace.
Sometimes, employees can sustain repetitive stress or motion injuries (RSI) due to repeated trauma on the job. One of the most common types of repetitive motion injuries is tendon sheath inflammation or tenosynovitis. Does North Carolina’s work comp law cover that sort of injury? We’ll find out in this article.
What Is Tenosynovitis?
Tenosynovitis occurs when there’s an inflammation of the protective sheath that covers a person’s tendons. The protective sheath is called the synovium, and it helps to lubricate the tendons. The tendons are fibrous tissues that hold the bones and muscles together and are responsible for motion.
Tendon sheath inflammation or injury occurs when an injury to the tendon causes the protective sheath to malfunction. Usually, our tendons can injure due to gradual wear and tear from daily repetitive activities. So, employees who perform the same motion tasks every day for a long time are at risk of developing tenosynovitis.
These employees include athletes, dentists, carpenters, typists, etc. Common symptoms include joint swelling, stiffness, and tenderness. Some patients discover redness of the skin surrounding the affected tendon. Physiotherapy, medications, injections, and surgery are likely treatment options for this condition.
Can I Get Compensation for Tendon Sheath Inflammation in North Carolina?
Under North Carolina’s work comp laws, compensable injuries include traumas in the course of employment. Repetitive stress injuries are part of such injuries, and so tenosynovitis is compensable in North Carolina. Your North Carolina worker’s compensation attorney will help you get medical coverage, disability payments, and compensation for lost time. However, proving that your tenosynovitis is work-related isn’t always an easy task.
To qualify for such compensation, you must establish the following:
- That your tendon sheath inflammation was caused by repetitive motions in the course of your employment. Your medical records and history can help you prove this. As such, one of the first things an injured employee must do is seek medical attention immediately.
- That you didn’t procrastinate in reporting your injuries to your employer, waiting too long to inform your employer about your tenosynovitis can complicate your compensation claims. You must also file your claim within the stipulated time limits.
- It may be mandatory to prove that your job puts you at a higher risk of developing tendon sheath inflammation. That is, your work conditions increased your risk of sustaining tenosynovitis than the general public.
What If My Employer Denies My Claim?
There are many reasons why your employer may deny your compensation claim. For example, it may be due to your employment status, missed deadline, insufficient information, evidence, etc. While some reasons for the denial are valid, some may not.
Your workers’ comp lawyers in Charlotte, NC, will access your case and let you know if the denial is valid. If the denial isn’t for reasonable cause, your attorney will appeal the decision. Your worker’s compensation attorneys in North Carolina will also advise you on other steps to take.
Usually, an appeal starts through a hearing before a deputy commissioner of the industrial commission or an appropriate government agency. During the hearing, your attorney will establish why you’re eligible for workers’ compensation. Then, the deputy commissioner (DC) or appropriate officer will make a ruling based on your representations.
If you disagree with the DC’s ruling, you can appeal the decision at a panel hearing of the industrial commission. You can also appeal the panel’s decision at an appropriate court of appeals.
Contact a Charlotte Workers’ Compensation Attorney Immediately!
Did you suffer tendon sheath inflammation due to the nature of your job? Then you can get fair compensation for your injuries. Our experienced workers’ compensation attorneys in Charlotte, NC, will help you out. Our lawyers will patiently access your case and let you know if you’re eligible for compensation. From carrying out investigations to representing you at hearings, we’d ensure you get no less than you deserve. Contact us today for a free case review.
