Suffering an injury is stressful: Will my work suffer? Will my quality of life suffer? When you are hurt on the job, one question should be answered for you: that of how to pay for treatment.
Many workers develop work-related back pain that progresses into a chronic pain condition. A European Union conference was told by the Fit to Work coalition in October of 2011 that more than 25% of the European working population suffers back pain due to the demands of their jobs. Given the fact that many instances of back pain worsen if not addressed, it is important to know how to pay for treatments.
Back pain can be caused by jobs that require repetitive motions, heavy lifting, stress and staying in one position for prolonged period of time. Some of our most important positions leave the people who work them prone to back pain: nursing, construction, firefighting, policing, cleaning, truck driving and office work are professions with high instances of back pain.
In the U.S., workers compensation exists to protect: 1) workers from being left with no money if a job-related health problem limits or destroys their ability to work and 2) employers from being sued by employees hurt on the job. Workers compensation is best known for paying disability benefits to those who can no longer work due to an injury or illness acquired on the job, but these benefits can also go toward medical treatments while you remain at work or take a brief hiatus to facilitate recovery. WorkCover is a similar program based in Australia. Many other countries have socialized medicine to ensure care is received by every citizen.
To receive workers compensation benefits, you must file a claim. Visit your doctor to determine the cause of your injury; if it is work-related and your treatment will require more than simple behavioral changes, you should file a claim. Also inform your doctor before making an appointment that you plan to receive workers compensation benefits, as some doctors do not accept these cases. Many private insurance companies refuse to cover the cost of injuries or illnesses acquired at work, so if workers compensation denies your claim, it will be necessary to seek the help of a lawyer. It is not easy for everyone to receive benefits. Back pain is a very widespread condition with many causes. You can expect some bumps in the road.
If your doctor confirms that your back pain is work-related, your employer may request that you receive a second opinion by a different doctor. Although this may seem like a way for your employer to back out of insuring you, it is still important to go for this second assessment, since benefits can be denied if you refuse.
Exact workers compensation regulations vary by state, but generally, benefits do not apply to alternative or experimental treatments. Massage, chiropractic and physical therapy sessions may be granted, but with a limit on the number of sessions covered. If a doctor informs the claims representative that more treatments are needed, he or she may grant them.
Prompt back pain treatment greatly increases your chance of recovery. Since back conditions can develop slowly, the pain may go unnoticed before the damage has escalated to a point of serious pain. Pay attention to your pain from the start, and keep track of the duration and severity of symptoms. Any back pain that persists longer than 2 days is not caused by simple muscle strain and demands your full attention.
If your job is causing your pain, work with your doctor and employer to identify behavioral changes that may help. If diagnostic imaging, chiropractic care, massage therapy, physical therapy or repeated doctor's visits are required, workers compensation should be footing the bill. Don't be fooled into thinking you can't afford to take care of yourself. For information on workers compensation laws by state, see http://www.workerscompensation.com/workers_comp_by_state.php.
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