What is a workplace injury?
When a worker is injured on the job, it can not only limit their ability to work and earn a living but can also result in chronic pain or long-term disability. Pain management following a workplace injury is critical to the recovery process, reducing the risk of complications and getting you back to work as soon as possible.
Chronic pain, as a result from a workplace injury, can have considerable mental and emotional side effects that interfere with your ability to carry out daily tasks. In some cases, the chronic pain can be severe enough to affect the entire body, resulting in loss of quality of life, anxiety, or depression.
What causes a workplace injury?
In most cases, there is a clear reason or incident that occurred causing your workplace injury. Other times, there may not be a clear reason or diagnosis for your pain. The most common causes for workplace injuries include:
- Specific incident or event – in these cases, you can pinpoint exactly what took place that resulted in your injury. This may involve a muscle injury, joint sprain, or broken bone.
- Overuse or gradual onset – for some people who work in jobs requiring repetitive postures or movements, like a factory line, these motions can cause pain in the tissues over time if not treated.
- Non-specific pain – In some cases, pain can start without a clear cause or reason, referred to as “non-specific”. If there are underlying factors that are present, work-related factors may contribute to “triggering” your pain, even though it may not be the true cause of it. Successful pain management will work to also identify those underlying causes and treat them for future prevention.
What is pain management for a workplace injury?
Our team of pain management professionals can help you streamline the road to recovery on an individualized treatment plan just for you. Seeking treatment immediately after your injury has many benefits, including:
- Reducing Discomfort – You may find that you aren’t able to partake in the activities you once used to due to the pain suffered from your injury. Seeking a specialized treatment plan is a great first step in reducing possible discomforts in your daily life.
- Preventing Chronic Pain – A pain management treatment plan is a key step in keeping you healthier long-term and reducing the risk of chronic pain. Your personalized treatment will help you to stay active and help you develop healthier habits for future activities. You may even find that you feel better than before your injury.
- Return to Work – Being off of work can be a financial and emotional burden. Physical therapy and a specialized treatment plan can help speed up the rate of recovery so you can pick up right where you left off.
- Prevent Complication and Reinjury – Any injury is important to treat right away, especially when you consider your potential for reinjury. People who have experienced a workplace injury are much more likely to become reinjured while doing the same work. Learning new mechanical ways to move your body and prevent these injuries is part of your treatment plan.
If you’ve suffered a workplace injury or are still dealing with pain from the last one, our team of pain management providers work hard to get you the personalized care you need and help find relief from your symptoms.
How can I recover from a workplace injury?
A workplace injury, no matter the severity, can have an emotional toll on a person, especially if it results in a long-term disability leave or chronic pain. If this is you, it is important to keep a positive frame of mind as it can have a big impact on your healing and recovery. Other things that may help include:
- Following the advice of your provider – your provider and team are there to help you get on the fastest road of recovery. Their recommended treatment plans are designed to help you get the most out of your situation and relieve your pain.
- Staying active and positive by continuing as much of your usual activities as possible. Be sure to follow your provider’s care instructions when performing activities.
- Stay in touch with coworkers, family, and friends. Moral support can have a huge effect on recovery and can provide the encouragement you need to push through recovery.
- Returning to work with limited ability can be a good option to speeding up your recovery. There is clear evidence that good work is good for your overall health. Extended absence from work is one of the strongest predictors of poor recovery. Your provider will assess whether you are fit to return to work and the tasks you are able to perform.