Tenosynovitis

Tenosynovitis occurs when the synovium, the lining of the sheath that surrounds tendons, becomes inflamed. The inflammation may be due to strain, injury, overuse, disease, infection, or unknown reasons. While the feet, ankles, hands, and wrists are at particular risk of being affected by tenosynovitis, the condition may affect any sheath. If you suffer from job-related tenosynovitis, you should retain an experienced Boston workers' compensation attorney to help you file your claim.

Sometimes an infected cut that causes tenosynovitis and results in pain, redness, fever, and difficulty moving a joint requires emergency surgical treatment to release pus around the tendon. Other nonsurgical treatment for tenosynovitis addresses pain and reduces inflammation. It may include the application of heat or ice, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or corticosteroid injections, or a splint or removable brace. You may also need to perform strengthening exercises that you can do after recovery to keep the problem from returning.

Recovery after treatment is probable. However, if you suffered tenosynovitis due to overusing the tendon, and you do not stop the activity that caused it after being treated, you are likely to suffer a recurrence. When a tendon is damaged, the recovery may be slow or may not occur, due to the condition becoming chronic. If you do not seek and get treatment, you face the possibility of a tendon becoming permanently restricted or torn. Workers who have pain when trying to straighten a joint should seek the help of a medical provider.

If you believe that a condition is a result of your work, you should report the injury to your employer. Once you have missed work for at least five partial or full days, your employer is supposed to file an Employer's First Report of Injury or Fatality with the Department of Industrial Accidents (DIA) and with its insurer within seven days from the fifth day in which time was lost because of the tenosynovitis. You should receive a copy. If your employer does not send the First Report form to the insurer within 30 days of your injury, you should report the injury to the insurer in writing. You can complete the Employee's Claims form and send it to the insurer.

After the insurer receives the First Report from your employer, it must investigate and decide whether to pay the claim within 14 days. Once the insurance company receives the form from your employer, it has 14 days to investigate the claim and determine whether to pay the claim or not. You should not assume that liability has been accepted because you receive payment. There is a pay-without-prejudice period within which an insurer may make payments while still investigating whether it has the obligation to pay.

Your employer has the right to designate a medical provider for your first scheduled visit. However, after that, you have the right to choose your own health care provider. You may make a change one time without permission from the insurer.

At Pulgini & Norton, our experienced Boston lawyers can advise you on claims arising out of tenosynovitis, as well as many other medical conditions. We also handle claims in New Bedford, Andover, and Lowell, among other Massachusetts communities. For a consultation with a job injury lawyer, contact us online or call us at 781-843-2200.