Reporting Carpal Tunnel in workplace

manpreet Best Answer 3 years ago

Background: I'm a 25 year old intern by day, I do a lot of word processing, and excel data work and I'm a computer engineering student at night who does a lot of coding

In the past two weeks at my job I've had shooting pains up and down my arm culminating in my middle finger. When I asked my parents about it they said it's probably the onset of carpal tunnel and told me to buy a wrist brace and make an appointment to get it checked out by a doctor. This morning at work someone from HR saw me wearing my wrist brace and told me I have to report it to my manager because it could become a state wide "worker's comp case" (I do not know what this means)

So that I can make a decision whether to report it or keep quiet, what are some pros and cons of reporting it? What are some of the ramifications of keeping it to myself?

Since I'm just an intern I want to make a good impression and work hard and hopefully get a return offer, on the other hand I do want to keep wearing the brace because typing has been a lot easier with it on.

manpreet 3 years ago

Go to a doctor and get it documented. IF this becomes a real medical issue down the line, you'll get hit with the "Pre-existing condition" line. And you'll be stuck. Your future employer will correctly argue that it didn't happen during your stint with them, and your current employer will then be able to argue that you never said anything when you worked for them.

Go, get examined, and get it documented and tell your doctor the truth(tm)