Are you injured on the job? Call Workers Comp Doctors at (888) 533-0870 to find care for your work-related foot injury.
While U.S. jobs vary, many of them require substantial amounts of time on their feet. The Bureau of Labor Statistics found that the average civilian worker spends more than half of their day standing. In this case, the term “standing” also includes walking, jumping, carrying objects, and more.
During all of these activities, your environment may put you at risk of a foot injury. Standing for long periods of time can also cause foot pain that may become chronic without medical care. These issues can cause anywhere from mild irritation to intense, mobility-restricting agony.
Workers’ compensation covers common foot injuries to help eligible employees recuperate lost wages. Knowing this, our team at Workers Comp Doctors ensures you can receive top-quality workers’ comp physical therapy treatment in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut. Here are common foot injuries at work that may require a call to our specialists.
Foot Injuries That May Require a Workers’ Compensation Doctor in New York City
The Arthritis Foundation notes that typical human feet contain about one-fourth of our body’s bones at 26 each. Both also have 30 joints and more than 100 muscles, tendons, and ligaments. With so many parts, it’s no surprise that a foot injury can entail complex damage that requires exceptionally detailed care.
Some of the most common foot and ankle injuries fit into specific damage categories:
- Burns and shocks
- Crushes
- Sprains and strains
- Fractures and breaks
- Puncture wounds
- Cut and lacerations
- Tendon tears
- Tunnel syndromes
- Bone misalignment
- Hypothermia and amputation
- Diabetic ulcer aggravation
Of these injuries, you often hear of these three common foot injuries at work:
1. Broken Foot Bones
The many bones in each foot can sustain severe damage when heavy objects drop onto them. Slips and falls, sharp materials, and landing incorrectly on your feet can break the skin and cause bleeding or broken bones. According to the Cleveland Clinic, a full recovery can take anywhere from six to eight weeks or more.
2. Plantar Fasciitis
The plantar fascia is a long ligament beneath the skin of the bottom of the foot. This ligament supports the arch of your foot and connects your ball and heel.
To get plantar fasciitis, all you have to do is stand for long periods without rest. The ligament can swell, tear, or bruise, so people who walk or often stand for their job are especially susceptible. In some cases, physical therapy can relieve the pain, but others may require custom orthotics.
3. Bunions
MedlinePlus identifies bunions as a painful swelling or bony protrusions occurring when the first toe misaligns. The toe bends inward toward the other toes, rubbing and wearing against them, while the protrusion leads to pain and stiffness. This scrunched toe position can lead to other foot problems, like ingrown toenails.
Some injuries take long periods of time to recover, while others lead to permanent disability. Regardless, if the injury occurred at work, you should report it to use your rights as an employee.
Describe Your Injury in Detail To a Workers’ Comp Podiatrist
When you see a medical provider for a work-related wound, tell them what you believe led to your injury. Also, tell them the state of your working conditions and common movements you make throughout the day. While some causes may appear obvious, others could be inconspicuous.
Common work-related foot injuries often occur from the same issues:
- Standing for extended periods can lead to a bunion, corn, or foot arch injury development.
- Falling and rolling objects can crush bones, resulting in long recovery times, puncture wounds, or even amputation.
- Slippery walking surfaces can cause a worker to sprain, twist, or fracture ligaments and bones.
- Sharp objects and machinery can cause foot lacerations and puncture wounds.
- Extreme temperature exposure can lead to burns, hypothermia, and frostbite, occasionally resulting in amputation.
- Chemical burns can result from caustic solutions on feet left unprotected by the proper footwear.
- High-voltage electrical shocks travel through workers’ bodies, including their feet, resulting in burns or fatal electrical exposure.
Your place of employment should make these circumstances as avoidable as possible. However, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) continues to discover violations of their workplace safety codes. In an interview with Safety+Health magazine, the deputy director confirmed that fall damage prevention has continued to be a prominent issue.
Slips and falls at work, among other issues, can result from your environment. As such, always tell your doctor where you sustained your injury and how you think it occurred or developed. They can commence further testing to confirm your suspicions, or they may find a different result for less apparent injuries.
Other Reasons to See a Podiatrist
Sometimes a foot injury indicates a different issue. Regardless, a podiatrist can work with other medical professionals to properly diagnose your ailment. Here are a few things you should check with a podiatrist about, especially if it starts at work:
- Pain while walking
- Numbness or decreased foot sensation
- Swollen feet
- Foot sores that do not heal
- Persistent ankle pain
- Persistent athlete’s foot and other fungal infections
- Ingrown toenails
The cause of some of these issues could relate to the liver, the spine, or other pertinent body parts. Unsafe or improper workplace conditions can contribute to the worsening of these injuries.
If you know the injury has no work relation, you should still receive care for it. However, if you even suspect the injury could relate to work, indicate that to your medical provider.
How to Find Reliable Workers’ Comp Doctors
Our staff helps your find medical professionals for common foot and other work-related injuries. Doctors in our directory accept most insurance plans, including workers’ compensation, no-fault, and Personal Injury Protection (PIP). Some of them may have same-day appointments available.
Call (888) 533-0870 to find a New York, New Jersey or Connecticut medical provider to help you recover from injuries and get back to living your life!
For safety tips and a list of work-related injuries you can avoid, read our guide.
