Back injuries are among the most common potential injuries in the workplace. Despite their commonality, they can actually cause far more problems than anyone may suspect.
For example, one back injury could actually put a person’s entire career in jeopardy. But how and why?
The biggest issue with back injuries
Mayo Clinic discusses back injuries that happen on the job. Generally speaking, back injuries can create enormous issues specifically because of how they heal.
In order to heal a back injury, especially muscular sprains or strains, it is important to rest and keep from doing the same action that caused the injury in the first place. This period of rest may last for weeks or even months depending on the severity of the injury or swelling.
But of course, no one has weeks or months of paid time or sick leave that they can simply take. This leads to many injured workers returning to their job without resting the proper amount, which can worsen the already existing injuries.
Injuries that worsen over time
Some worsened injuries progress to the point where they actually require surgery to fix. Of course, this means even more time away from work, along with the medical expenses that will come along with surgery and recovery.
In short, back injuries are a slippery slope into potentially costly medical care, all at the expense of a reliable paycheck. This is why many workers who injure themselves on the job will pursue compensation. It helps them cover their medical needs even in the face of taking multiple weeks or months away from work.
