Occupational disease: Carpal tunnel syndrome
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a disease that occurs in people who work with computers from morning to evening or use their hands a lot.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome occurs as a result of compression of the median nerve passing through the tunnel of the same name at the wrist level. It occurs frequently in people who work for many years by putting a load on the wrist, those who use computers, housewives who knit and do intense housework, and people who use their wrists a lot, such as auto mechanics.
Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome
The signs and symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome usually start slowly and develop. Under normal circumstances, individuals first notice tingling and numbness in their fingers or hands.
In most cases, all fingers are affected except the little finger. In some cases, an electric shock-like sensation in the fingers has been observed. It is common for individuals to shake their hands to relieve their symptoms.
The uncomfortable sensations can move from the wrist to the arm of the individual. Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome usually occur when holding objects such as a newspaper, book, phone, or steering wheel.
Its effects are commonly seen at night. In some cases, the sensations can be so severe that they wake the individual from sleep. The numbness may become constant and permanent over time.
In such cases, the daily life of the person can be negatively affected. In fact, the person may no longer be able to perform his job by becoming incapacitated. In this case, you may be entitled to seek compensation to provide compensation for the damage. You can obtain the documents and information required to claim this type of compensation from TPD lawyers in Sydney.
Weakness in the hands, as well as dropping objects is another symptom of carpal tunnel syndrome. This condition can be caused by general numbness in the individual's hand or also due to weakness of the compression muscles in the thumb, which are controlled by the median nerve.
Individuals with carpal tunnel syndrome signs and symptoms that interfere with their normal daily lives or sleep patterns should consult a doctor. If carpal tunnel syndrome is not treated, permanent nerve and muscle damage can occur in the hands.
What causes carpal tunnel syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs as a result of the pressure of the median nerve in the wrist region due to various diseases and anatomical changes. This pressure on the nerve may be caused by oedema in the connective tissue of that area and interruption of blood flow.
Genetic predisposition, repetitive movements involving the wrist, obesity, rheumatic diseases and pregnancy are among the important risk factors for increased pressure in the canal. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a disorder that is more common in women than men.
There are many diseases that are thought to be associated with the development of carpal tunnel syndrome during the course of the disease:
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* Diabetes
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* Thyroid gland diseases
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* Excessive fluid retention during menopause and pregnancy
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* Hypertension (high blood pressure)
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* Autoimmune diseases in which the immune system causes damage to the body's own cells and tissues.
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* Traumas in the wrist region.
Carpal tunnel syndrome usually does not occur due to a single cause. It is a picture that is formed by the combination of health problems and risk factors that may cause the development of this syndrome. The underlying reason why this disorder occurs more frequently in women than in men may be due to the narrower course of this gap in women than in men.
Various health problems such as diabetes can cause damage to nerve structures in the body. In diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome may occur due to the development of an inflammatory process in the connective tissue in this region.
Use of heavy machinery is another risk factor that may result in the development of carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel syndrome may occur in these individuals as a result of frequent exposure to intense vibration of the wrist over a long period of time. Long-term use of keyboard and mouse, which has become a part of business life outside of the work machine, may also be among the causes of carpal tunnel syndrome.
Is carpal tunnel syndrome an occupational disease? Can compensation be claimed for this in Australia?
It can be considered as an occupational disease due to the reasons that cause the emergence of carpal tunnel syndrome. In Australia, workers' compensation is a form of insurance for workers who become injured or sick on the job.
In such a case, if you have contracted the disease because of your job, you can find out about your entitlements by contacting the workers' compensation lawyers in Sydney.