Work Related Injuries

From muscle strains and pulls to joint and back-related pain, work-related injuries can result in a wide range of painful conditions that can be either temporary or chronic in nature, with some requiring more extensive treatment than others. Due to the diversity of what can be considered a “work-related injury,” symptoms can be mild, severe, sudden, progressive, or somewhere in between any of these descriptions. Treating such injuries starts with making an accurate diagnosis of what’s causing the pain and often includes a combination of remedies ranging from pain medications to some type of physical therapy.

Causes

Some degree of muscle strain is a common cause of work-related injuries, usually resulting from improper lifting techniques or overextending a muscle and corresponding joint. Injuries in the workplace can also be caused by being struck by an object, which may result in back, shoulder, knee, or leg pain, depending on location of the impact. Overexertion and falls account for nearly $30 billion in workers’ compensation costs alone. Low back pain is the most common source of job-related pain, although work-related injuries can also be caused by:

  • Repetitive motions

  • Being struck against an object

  • Sudden or hard body movements

Symptoms

Symptoms of work-related injuries can be gradual and progressive when repetitive motion injuries are involved, as is often the case with carpal tunnel syndrome, which is caused by a pinched nerve. Symptoms from repetitive muscle strain or overexertion can include dull aches that are initially mild and become increasingly worse due to inflammation and joint or tissue damage. For injuries involving a fall, the pain may be intense and felt instantly or become evident later after inflammation develops in the affected area. Some other signs of a work-related injury include:

  • Sudden or sharp pain that doesn’t go away with initial rest

  • Pain aggravated by certain movements involved with your job

  • Mild discomfort that lingers or becomes increasingly persistent

Treatments

If the source of your pain from a work-related injury isn’t clear from image tests, a functional capacity evaluation may be recommended to determine your ability to perform movements involving lifting, standing, walking, pushing, and pulling. When it’s work-related back pain you’re dealing with, treatment often includes some type of physical therapy and the use of pain medications on a temporary basis, although including anti-inflammatory foods in your diet can also help and minimize your risk of issues with pain medications.

Treatment may also involve:

  • Aggressive injury management

  • Ongoing chiropractic care

  • Encouragement of preventative steps

Successful management of pain resulting from a work-related injury depends on the extent of the injury and when it’s diagnosed and treated. If your pain reaches a point where it’s either manageable or has become minimal or non-existent, you may need to modify your work-activities, especially if you’re in an occupation that involves heavy lifting or repetitive motions, in order to minimize the risk of sustaining additional injuries. As with any type of injury, early diagnosis greatly increases your odds of seeing positive treatment results.