Can thoracic outlet syndrome be covered under workmans comp?

Question

I have just been diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome after ruling out everything else. First I was told it was carpal tunnel. I have a job where I have terrible working conditions and do repetitive work every day. Lots and lots of data entry with no keyboard, mouse or back support. I have not been in an accident or injured and I've done clerical work all my life and never had this until I started this job a year ago. I see it can be work related but of course my boss is giving me an attitude about the whole thing. I'm missing work for appt's and not getting paid. I feel this should go under workman's comp. I can barely sit at work . I need helo..I'm losing my mind. I'm getting harrassment at work over this. Now what? any suggestions? Thanks

Answer 1

Your doctor would be the best one to answer this. It is probably work-related, but a statement from the doctor will be enough to show that it is work-related.

Answer 2

Not carpal tunnel!!! Use info in the book at the end with a chiropractor (muscle specialist preferred) and a massage therapist who knows to have the hand of the sore shoulder reach over to the other shoulder to get under the shoulderblade. Back support mandatory (I find it best to have my feet propped up on two mail buckets) - rest your arms on the table top to releive the added strain have the MD or Chiropractor DICTATE it to work - they have to work with it.

Much pain is from muscles below is an example of what may help (based on headaches).
Begin with a couple swigs of molasses or a couple of bananas daily - magnesium (which regulates many things in the body) and potassium (a needed building block for muscles).
Drink at least 1/2 gallons of water per day. Running a body low on water is like running a car low on oil is the analogy the head of neurology at UCDavis told my husband about 10 years ago.

Now to the cause - muscles - your back, neck shoulders and head have tender spots. They are knots in the fibers of the muscles called trigger points. It makes the muscles tight which makes them press on nerves and other things causing the pain.

The cure - start with a professional massage, you will also want to go back over any place you can get to 6-12 times per session up to 6 times per day rubbing (or lightly scratching on your head) every where that is tender until the knots go away. The place where the skull connects to the spine press up under the edge of the skull (to get to those muscles).

For more information read The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook by Davies. It teaches what to do and where the pain comes from.

Answer 3

go to HR and tell them you are hurting and file a workmans comp claim, they have to send you to the WC doctor, don't expect them to be nice I was injured Feb, 24, 2003 and am still fighting workmans comp.finally a court date has been set!