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Do You Have a Workplace Injury? Two Treatments that Don’t Require Surgery

Workers Compensation

When you hear the words “work-related injury” or “workers compensation,” you probably think of professionals like construction workers or others in the manual labor fields. Consider that nearly 13% of construction workers in 2014 were injured seriously enough to miss one or more days of work. It’s no surprise that the building sector garners such a reputation. Workers compensation can vary depending on which state you live in. For example if you live in North Carolina (NC) you might ask yourself how does workers comp work in nc? There might be similar laws in other states, however its always best to do your research first. There are so many things that you need to be made aware of when it comes to workers compensation. For example, you might be interested in learning more about whether or not you can you quit your job while on workers comp or something else entirely. It is always a good idea to do your research first, so that you fully understand your situation.

While it’s true professionals in the manual labor fields certainly have a high risk of becoming injured on the job. The truth is that every line of work carries with it a chance of getting hurt. For instance, in 2010, over 25% of injuries in the workplace occurred in service occupations. Compare that to 8% in construction occupations and 7.1% in office and administrative positions. Roughly 30% of all workplace injuries in 2010 were musculoskeletal disorders. Injuries that affect the muscles, tendons, nerves, joints, cartilage, or spinal discs. Risk abounds no matter the type of work.

Options for Pain Management

Once a worker develops a musculoskeletal disorder or injury, his or her health is put in jeopardy again. This time by the pharmaceutical industry. Injuries to the back, joints, and muscles can develop into chronic pain disorders. Rather than treat the cause of the pain, many patients seek pain relief in the form of over-the-counter NSAIDs or prescription opioids. Who can blame them? They have families to provide for. They can’t afford to miss any more work than is absolutely necessary. However, some people experience serious side effects from these prescription drugs that end up making their condition worse and increasing the time they need to take off work. They often go to law firms like Drug Guardians to help get compensation from this.

Workers Compensation will cover some time out for an injury, but often it does not last indefinitely. Corrective surgery is expensive and can put an employee out for months. Not to mention the long road to rehabilitation that it entails. But what if there were alternatives that they could use to find relief while avoiding the harsh and often addicting painkillers as well as invasive surgery? Below you will find two non-invasive, safe, and effective treatments for pain resulting from work-related injuries:

Chiropractic

Chiropractic care is effective at realigning joints and the spine while relieving discomfort and pain and increasing functionality. It can also be used to treat repetitive strain injuries, injuries from trauma, and other types of work-related aches. Depending on the patient complaint, a chiropractor will devise a plan to treat the affected area using realignment techniques. This helps regain proper posture and form of movement. They also us massage to loosen muscles and restore range of motion. Finally, they complementary exercises to strengthen the injured joint or muscle and prevent injury recurrence.

Advantages of Chiropractic Care

The advantage that Chiropractic care has over other forms of treatment is twofold. First, Chiropractic patients are not at risk of becoming addicted to opioid painkillers because it treats the cause of pain rather than the symptoms. Second, Chiropractic care is not invasive. Meaning it does not require surgery and the weeks of recovery that come with such methods. Sure, you’ll have to take it easy for a while at work, but you won’t have to miss work entirely. Your supervisor should be able to work with you and temporarily assign you to a new task better suited to your needs. Workers Compensation programs often work with chiropractic providers. The only way to learn whether your workplace injury can be treated by a chiropractor is to talk to one, so what are you waiting for?

Cold Laser Therapy

Like Chiropractic care, Cold Laser Therapy is not invasive and non-habit forming. It uses infrared laser radiation to stimulate the cells around and injury to promote healing. Practitioners use Cold Laser Therapy to treat many different musculoskeletal disorders:

• Acute, Sub-Acute, and Chronic pain
• Back pain
• Bursitis
• Carpal tunnel symptoms
• Osteoarthritis
• Tendonitis
• Tennis elbow
• Soft tissue injuries
• Muscle strain

If you suffer from any of these conditions and are considering procedures, ask about Cold Laser Therapy. As Physical Therapy Month draws to a close, there is no better time to seek out the advice and services of a caregiver who focuses on rehabilitative work injury recovery.

Dr. Michael Newman has more than 35 years of experience helping Miami clients live a pain-free life without the use of prescription drugs and invasive surgeries. If you want relief from your injuries, contact his compassionate team today and remember to file for Workers Compensation immediately after a work related injury. You can refer to our article, 4 Tips to filing your claim correctly for advice and if you believe you may need legal counselling, you can request a free consultation with Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. or any law firm that specialize in workers Comp cases and third party liability claims.