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Getting Long-Term Disability (LTD) Benefits for De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis

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The process for getting your long-term disability (LTD) benefits for De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis (“De Quervain’s”) can be difficult and often frustrating if your claim is denied.  Coping with symptoms of De Quervain’s is stressful enough without also having to fight with the insurance company for the benefits you are entitled to.

Insurance companies are powerful, have a lot of resources, and are often motivated by their own financial interests.  At Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD, our team of attorneys and professionals help clients access their ERISA and non-ERISA LTD benefits from insurance companies.  We can take on the burden of dealing with the insurance company for you, so that you can focus on your health and family.  Contact us now at 401-331-6300 for a FREE consultation to see if we can fight for you.

Understanding De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis

De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis (“De Quervain’s”) is a condition affecting the tendons on the thumb side of your wrist.  Pain and swelling in the thumb, along with difficulty completing grasping or pinching movements, are the primary symptoms of De Quervain’s, however, you may also experience swelling, a fluid-filled cyst on the thumb, and numbness in the thumb and index finger.  While this condition can typically be treated successfully if diagnosed early, it can result in pain that spreads to the forearm if it is not treated. De Quervain’s can also be exacerbated if you need to repeatedly perform grasping or pinching movements.

This condition is more common among women over 40.  Additionally, if your requires repetitive hand and wrist motion, you are at a higher risk of being affected by De Quervain’s. Arthritis and injuries to the wrist that result in a buildup of scar tissue can also increase your risk of suffering from De Quervain’s.

Diagnosis and Treatment of De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis

In order to diagnose you with De Quervain’s, a doctor, typically an orthopedist, will often perform The Finkelstein test.  During this test, you bend your thumb, fingers, and wrists simultaneously.  Typically, people with De Quervain’s will experience significant pain on the thumb side of their wrist during the test.  A doctor may also apply pressure to the thumb side of the wrist, which often results in a De Quervain’s diagnosis if the pressure is painful.

Treatment for De Quervain’s usually focuses on pain management and preserving movement ability. You may be asked to avoid certain activities that elicit symptoms. In some cases, you may also use a splint or brace on your thumb or wrist, or participate in regular physical therapy, to help alleviate and manage your pain.  In rare and extreme cases, surgery may be necessary to relieve the pressure on the tendons in your wrist.

How De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis Can Affect Your Ability to Work

If you perform repetitive movements with your hand or wrist as part of your job, De Quervain’s can significantly impact your ability to work.  Rapid or high-force pinching or grasping movements may be impossible for someone who suffers from De Quervain’s.  Additionally, because De Quervain’s affects your hand and wrist, you may have difficulty performing fine motor activities like typing and writing for extended periods of time.  Even if you take time off to recover, your symptoms may become present again if you resume these stressful activities.

How can CCK help you with your LTD appeal?

CCK can use its vast knowledge and experience to help you level the playing field against your long-term disability insurer.

As your representative, we study your insurance company’s denial letter, gather the claim file from the insurance company, plus the policy information and further plan-governing documents. We know the rules that insurance companies must follow.  We can use our knowledge and experience of U.S. Department of Labor regulations and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act to recognize insurance company errors.

Having treating doctors that support your disability claim and are willing to carefully provide reports and complete forms is an important aspect to your claim as well.  Some doctors would prefer to not get involved with long or short-term disability claims.  We are experienced in dealing with this situation at CCK. While most doctors would like to help, many are busy with their medical practices. We work to ease and guide the flow of information between the doctor and insurance company.

We also help our clients discuss their disabilities with their doctors. For instance, it is important to ask your treating doctor to document exam findings, any medication variations and their effects, your symptoms, and how they impact your ability to function in daily life or at work.

At CCK, we work to build the strongest long-term disability case as possible for our clients by talking a comprehensive approach to appeals. We’ll gather the evidence needed to help prove your case in court.  Such evidence might include:

  • Test results
  • Reports from your treating doctors
  • Medical records
  • Witness statements from you, your family, friends, or co-workers
  • Expert opinions

Since the administrative appeal stage is often the last time claimants can submit substantive evidence into the record, we are sure to build a complete evidence record to file with your appeal.

After gathering your evidence, we write the appeal.  We are sure to thoughtfully explain why you meet your insurance policy’s definition of disability and other considerations for coverage.  Our arguments are solely founded on and reinforced by evidence and the law governing these claims.

Contact Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick Today

Let us assist you in the fight against the insurance company.  Contact us now at 401-331-6300 for a FREE consultation to see if we can help.