When you need assistance managing pain after an injury at work, call Workers Comp Doctors at (888) 533-0870.
Work-related injuries can hinder your ability to gain income and relax on your off-time. The pain of such injuries can range depending on several factors, from personal tolerance to wound severity. Regardless of what caused the issue, managing pain is crucial to improve your quality of life post-injury.
Consult top workers’ compensation doctor collective to find the best way to deal with pain. At Workers Comp Doctors, we ensure that you have access to qualified physicians for any work-related injury. We also have several tips for pain mitigation and how you can find the right doctor for you.
Types of Pain Related to Work
Work-related injuries can occur anywhere in the body, but there are common spots and types of pain many people experience. Some sensations start as acute pain, often manifesting as a stabbing or sharp feeling inside the body. Others begin with a more muted response to your pain signals but worsen with time.
Both can become long-lasting, with several injuries resulting in chronic pain, such as:
- Soft tissue injuries
- Back injuries
- Neck injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Broken or crushed bones
- Repetitive stress injuries
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Burns
One rare issue called complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) causes debilitating pain that can last for months or even years. This form of chronic pain usually develops after injuries, surgeries, or strokes. The pain signals overreact to the sensation and cause discomfort or even agony not proportionate to the initial cause.
How To Receive Treatment for Work-Related Injuries
Before filing for workers’ compensation, you should see a medical provider once you notice any potentially work-related pain. Do not wait until the pain worsens, as doing so can make managing pain more complicated down the line. Immediate records of the pain and injuries can also better connect to work incidences.
Some work-related injuries are obvious, like breaking a bone during a fall on the job. However, physicians also record soft tissue or nagging issues, like muscle pain or carpal tunnel syndrome.
Start at an emergency room for severe injuries. For less debilitating issues, contact a Workers Comp Doctors physician. We have written reports for several work-related injuries and can guide workers through questions to identify the pain.
Maximum Medical Improvement
Even after receiving workers’ compensation and treatment, some people continue experiencing chronic pain. A worker who has tried all possible treatments can reach maximum medical improvement or MMI. MMI does not mean complete healing, but no other known treatment can help the condition improve.
Someone who has reached MMI might still feel enough pain that they experience issues that reduce their quality of life, such as:
- Sleep disturbances
- Reduced range of motion
- Mobility loss
- Pain with certain previously normal activities, like standing or sitting
- Inability to complete usual daily routines
Chronic pain and the inability to do usual tasks can cause significant emotional distress that often makes the pain worse. This psychological pain is just as pertinent and prominent as physical pain. A worker’s mental and physical health matters immensely, so don’t discount emotional or psychological pain when managing your injury.
How Providers Can Help With Pain Mitigation
Before you reach MMI, doctors can correspond with your primary care doctor to help manage pain. As the primary doctor commences with treatment, the pain management provider suggests plans for optimum comfort.
A Work-Healing Balance
Many workers who sustain injuries are also primary providers in their households. As such, they may become anxious and eager to return to work.
A pain management provider sets up a plan alongside the primary comp doctor that could help the worker return to their job. While the possibility may not always exist with some injuries or pain, they can negotiate ways that make work more manageable. They can also assist with work-restricting pain to lessen the effects.
Different Medicinal Options
Pain management physicians include your medical and family health history and other factors while building your pain mitigation plan. Some treatments include oral or topical medications or injections that reduce inflammation and help manage pain. For example, facet joint injections commonly help treat back or neck injuries.
Pain medication should reduce pain and allow the patient to move enough for other forms of treatment. The pain management provider should always acknowledge previous or current addictions when suggesting treatment. Their goal in mitigating pain should not result in an overreliance on opioids.
A closely monitored dosing schedule for opioid medications can manage pain and reduce the number of prescriptions. The pain management provider should ensure actual healing instead of letting the medicine cover symptoms while ignoring the root cause. Your doctor should check that the prescribed pain medications do not interact with other prescriptions, like anti-depressants or sleeping pills.
Specialized Treatment
An active and holistic treatment often involves some physical activity. Alternative therapies such as chiropractic care are noninvasive ways to improve flexibility and mobility while reducing pain. Some physically active or holistic treatments can assist in managing pain, such as:
- Massages
- Physical therapy
- Exercise
- Electrical stimulation
- Heat or cold therapy
- Acupuncture
These treatments work with some patients to increase their blood flow, relieve muscle tension, and reduce pain. While they may not eradicate the pain alone, these methods can work in tandem with pain medication for more effective healing.
Other options, like diet and lifestyle changes, or meditation, like yoga, can assist holistically. Holistic treatment, like pain medication, tends to work alongside medical assistance to improve the patient’s overall health.
Regain Control Over Your Pain
At Workers Comp Doctors, our specialists help you take control of your care and build methods for managing pain. Even lifelong pain can become easier to mitigate when you have an informative and dedicated support system. Physicians listed in our free worker’s comp directory tailor your care to your needs and help you find the most effective treatment. Doctors accept workers’ compensation insurance, no-fault, PIP (personal injury protection), medical liens, and other insurance plans. Same-day appointments may be available.
Learn how a workers’ compensation doctor can help you take charge of your life by calling (888) 533-0870.
