Back and neck pain can be quite debilitating. Back pain is one of the most common reasons people miss work or visit the doctor. And while there are many different causes of back pain, occupational hazards are a leading cause of chronic back pain.
What is Workers’ Comp?
Workers’ compensation is a type of insurance that pays for medical expenses. Plus, it provides income when a worker obtains an injury on the job or develops an occupational illness. Further, workers’ comp laws offer protection for workers who suffer workplace injuries and illnesses. For example, workers may receive workers’ comp benefits for back and neck injuries.
Workers’ compensation is needed for both employers and employees. In fact, it is a specialized type of insurance that compensates people injured on the job. It helps the employer and employee because it pays for medical bills and lost wages. Also, it provides temporary disability payments, vocational rehabilitation, and wage replacement benefits. Finally, it ensures that employers have access to competent workers.
In most states, employers must carry workers’ compensation insurance as a condition of doing business. The insurance company pays benefits, and the employer pays premiums. Not only does workers’ comp insurance pay benefits to employees who obtain an injury on the job. But it may also pay benefits to their dependents in some circumstances. Workers’ comp benefits are traditionally divided into two broad categories: “temporary total disability” and “temporary partial disability.” You may need permanent disability if you require surgery, have a severe spinal cord injury, or have a similar problem.
Types of Back and Neck Injuries
In short, the spine is a complex structure that consists of bones, discs, ligaments, and muscles. Further, the spine divides into four regions: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral. Also, back and neck injuries can be either acute or chronic. Acute injuries are sudden or new. At the same time, chronic injuries have been present for some time.
Plus, there is a critical difference between lumbar spine and the sacral spine. For example, the lumbar spine refers to the region between the end of the ribcage and where it connects with the pelvic girdle. However, the sacral spine refers to a section of the vertebral column that is located at or below this point.
Many people suffer back pain at some point in their lives, the most common cause being an injury to the back or neck. As a result, back and neck injuries result from many factors. On the one hand, acute causes of back and neck injuries are usually due to falls, motor vehicle accidents, or sports-related activities. On the other hand, chronic causes usually result from occupational hazards. For instance, bad posture habits or constant hunching over a computer may lead to chronic back or neck pain.
Common Causes of Back and Neck Injuries
Unfortunately, back and neck injuries are common in the workplace. The most common causes of these injuries are sitting for long periods without a break, lifting heavy objects, and bending over repeatedly. However, back and neck injuries may also result from the following:
- Jumping
- Bending
- Twisting
- Turning
- Slips
- Trips
- Slip and falls
- Herniated disc
To prevent back and neck injury, the best thing to do is exercises that strengthen the core muscles. You can do these exercises in many different places, like at work or during your lunch break. As a result, they will help you reduce the risk of developing back and neck pain in the future. If you endure a neck and back injury, one of the best things you can do is go to physical therapy. Your workers’ compensation benefits should cover it so you can relieve your pain and suffering.
What are the Best Practices for Treating Back and Neck Injuries?
In general, patients with back and neck pain often experience various symptoms. For instance, they may feel tightness in the muscles, limited range of motion, numbness, tingling, and loss of sensation. Thus, these symptoms may result from a strain or sprain of the neck or back.
These symptoms can range from mild to severe and may include the following:
- Stiffness in the back, neck, or jaw
- Pain that radiates down the leg or arm
- A sensation of pins and needles in the arm or leg
- Numbness in the arm or leg
- Numbness on one side of the face
How do I file Workers Compensation Claims?
The very first step is to seek medical care. Next, you should file for a workers comp claim. In the US, workers’ compensation is a form of insurance that employers provide to their employees. It protects employees if they have an injury on the job. Further, workers file workers’ comp claims with an employer’s insurance company.
To file a workers’ comp claim, the worker must fill out a workers’ comp claim form. To be specific, the injured worker must fill out the form. Then they must submit it to the employer’s insurance company. Finally, the employer must approve the claim for the injured worker to receive workers’ comp benefits.
Overall, the purpose of worker’s comp benefits is to compensate for injury or illness incurred on the job. The amount of benefits depends on the severity of the injury and whether it occurred over some time or not. Most workers’ comp cases resolve within the following stages:
- First, the employer and employee must discuss a mutually agreed upon medical treatment plan.
- Second, a doctor or other medical provider will confirm the injury or illness.
- Finally, the employer and employee evaluate all benefits for filing charges with the state’s workers’ compensation commission (WCC).
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As you can see, filing a workers’ comp claim is complex. If you want to ensure you get all the benefits you deserve, contact an experienced workers’ comp lawyer.