Can You Get Workers’ Comp for Hypothenar Hammer Syndrome?
Too often, hand injuries at work get brushed off as “just sore hands.”
If you’ve ever used the heel of your palm like a tool to smack, press, or twist something into place, there’s a hand condition worth knowing about: hypothenar hammer syndrome (HHS). It develops when blood flow to your fingers drops because the ulnar artery on the pinky side of your palm gets injured. This is a workplace injury risk for people who repeatedly use the edge of the hand to grind, push, or twist hard objects, which can even stem from a single hard hit.
The trouble spot is the hypothenar eminence (the fleshy pad at the base of your little finger), where the ulnar artery runs close to the surface. Repeated blunt contact or one significant blow can injure that artery and lead to clots or narrowing that starves the fingers of warm, oxygenated blood.
Who is affected by HHS?
Who tends to be affected? Hands-on workers and hobbyists who regularly deliver force through the heel of the hand. That includes auto mechanics, metal workers, carpenters, bricklayers, machinists, butchers, bakers, and people who use vibrating tools.
Certain sports and hobbies can also pose a risk (e.g., baseball, mountain biking, martial arts, and weight training) because they involve repeated strikes or pressure on the same area. Even if you don’t do those jobs or activities daily, one hard strike can sometimes be enough to cause injury.
What are the symptoms, and how is it recognized?
The hallmark symptoms line up with reduced circulation to the fingers:
- Aching or tenderness along the pinky side of the palm
- Pins-and-needles or numbness in the ring and little fingers
- A drop in grip strength.
- Cold sensitivity
- Color changes (pale or bluish fingers)
- Fingers that feel clumsy after exposure to cold or after repetitive use
These are warning signs to take seriously rather than writing them off as “just sore hands.”
Your doctor can piece together the diagnosis by combining symptoms with medical and job history. If your work or sport involves frequent impact on the heel of the hand, that context helps point providers in the right direction faster.
They may use imaging or blood-flow studies to confirm an obstruction or injury in the ulnar artery or its branches. Because symptoms can resemble carpal tunnel syndrome or Raynaud’s phenomenon, it’s important to share the detail that you frequently “hammer” with your palm.
How can I prevent HHS?
The simplest prevention principle is to stop using your palm as a hammer. Build habits that move the force away from the hypothenar area. For example:
- Use the right striking or pressing tool.
- Avoid gripping handles on tools too tightly.
- Add padding whenever contact is unavoidable.
- Keep tools well-maintained to reduce vibration.
- Rotate tasks so the same motion isn’t repeated for long stretches.
- Take short breaks to give your hands a rest.
- When you’re working in cold environments, keep your hands warm to avoid vasoconstriction.
Protective equipment matters too. Well-fitted, padded gloves can blunt trauma to the heel of the hand and dampen vibration.
Can I get workers' compensation for HHS in New York?
HHS can be covered by New York workers’ compensation if you can show it arose out of your job. New York treats conditions caused by repetitive trauma or distinctive job exposures as “occupational diseases,” and you’re entitled to the same benefits as for an on-the-job injury.
Here’s what to do next:
- Show the injury is work-related: Discuss the nature of your work with your treating physician and make sure your medical notes spell out the connection between your job tasks and your symptoms.
- See an authorized provider: Medical bills for a covered work injury/illness are paid by your employer’s comp insurer; you shouldn’t be billed.
- Meet the deadlines: Tell your employer in writing within 30 days of the injury/illness (as soon as you realize it’s work-related). Missing this can jeopardize your claim.
- File your claim with the Board (Form C-3) within two years. For occupational disease claims, this timeframe is two years from the date of disablement and from when you knew or should have known the disease was due to your job.
If you suffered HHS on the job, you may be eligible for:
- Medical care that follows the state’s Medical Treatment Guidelines for hand, wrist, and forearm injuries
- Wage-replacement (cash) benefits if you lose time from work
- Permanent impairment awards may be available if you’re left with a lasting loss of function in the hand/arm
- Vocational rehabilitation if you must switch careers due to your condition
Explore your legal options for HHS
If you developed HHS as part of your job, Pasternack Tilker Ziegler Walsh Stanton & Romano LLP is here to help. Our New York workers’ compensation lawyers know how to build strong cases for injured workers. We can connect your symptoms to your job tasks, coordinate care with Board-authorized doctors, gather vascular testing and imaging, and handle every deadline and form, including your C-3. If the insurance company schedules an IME or disputes causation, we help you get prepared, challenge weak reports, and, when needed, take your case to hearings and appeals.
During your free consultation, we listen first. We’ll review how your hand is used on the job, when symptoms began, and what treatment you have had. We then explain your benefits, outline a step-by-step plan, and address your questions about doctors, wage replacement, and timelines. You pay nothing up front. We work on a contingency fee basis, so there are no upfront or hidden costs.
We serve injured workers throughout New York City and across the state, including Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, Long Island, Westchester, Rockland, and upstate communities such as Albany, Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse. Contact us today to schedule a free, confidential consultation with our legal team.
“The firm treated me with respect and dignity and handled all my workers' comp issues with ease. I highly recommend them. Thank you.” - E.D., ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐