Claimant indicated she worked ten hours per day, at least four days per week with overtime required. She had a thirtyminute lunch and two ten-minute breaks each day. She estimated it took approximately twenty minutes to complete twelve shirts. She noted that if the material was fleece the job was more difficult and may take more time to complete because it was more difficult to use the scissors. She also had to thread the needle on the sewing machine. She estimated she completed 300-500 shirts per day.
Claimant agreed that the Task Analysis Report, marked as Joint Exhibit II, was consistent with her job duties at Employer. She testified she constantly used her hands at work unless she was on break. The Work Center Ergonomic Job Study, marked as Joint Exhibit I, concluded that a cycle of twelve shirts per cycle consisted of approximately 300 hand movements per cycle per trimmer. This equated to approximately 7500-9000 upper extremity movements per trimmer per shift. Tool hand movements listed a medium, steady motion with approximately 144 hand movements per cycle for both the right and left upper extremities.
Claimant testified that she began noticing tingling, numbness and tenderness in both wrists within a couple of months of working for Employer. She continued to perform her job duties with problems. Her hands progressively became worse until she was seen by her own physician, Dr. Patel. Dr. Patel recommended Naproxyn for four weeks, which did not help, and he then recommended a nerve conduction study. The study was performed at Jefferson Memorial Hospital on March 25, 2003 and demonstrated bilateral median entrapment. Dr. Patel diagnosed carpal tunnel syndrome and indicated to Claimant that it was related to her job. Claimant then notified her Employer of the condition.
Employer sent Claimant to Dr. Ollinger for an evaluation on June 5, 2003. Dr. Ollinger examined Claimant and opined that Claimant had carpal tunnel syndrome and that it's cause was idiopathic. He noted that Claimant had risk factors of female and over 40 years of age. Claimant testified he did not review any records with her, did not ask for the results of any testing performed and did not ask for a job description. Claimant then received a letter stating that her carpal tunnel syndrome was not work-related.
Claimant then sought treatment on her own and Dr. Patel referred her to Dr. Schlafly. She provided information to Dr. Schlafly and was examined by Dr. Schlafly on June 26, 2003. Dr. Schlafly confirmed the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome. He performed a right carpal tunnel release and excision of a ganglion on January 22, 2004. He performed a left carpal tunnel release on February 12, 2004. Claimant testified the surgeries relieved the numbness in her hands and Dr. Schlafly released her on March 15, 2004. When she was released she noticed her hands tired easily, she continued to have weakness and some tenderness. She returned to Employer after her release and continued there as a trimmer until May of 2005. She left Employer when they moved their facility to St. Louis from Desoto. She sought and found a position that did not require her to use her hands repetitively. Her complaints at the time of hearing included continued tenderness, weakness, significant loss of grip strength and difficulty opening jars. She testified that she did not have hobbies such as crochet, guitar or computer work. She takes over the counter medications at times if her hands are tender.
Claimant testified that prior to working for Employer she did not have any complaints in her hands and worked fo