Work-Related Injury Specialists

Common Causes of Work-related Injuries

These are just some of the most common types of workplace injuries that could happen while on the job. Comprehensive pain management is vital to a patient’s healing process. Our doctors can thoroughly evaluate your pain symptoms in order to accurately diagnose the cause. Once we have an accurate diagnosis, we will work together with you to create a treatment plan that will effectively address your pain. Our pain-management specialists are located throughout Florida, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

What to Do If You Are Injured at Work

The workplace of the United States has, generally, become safer over the past century and the rates of injury, disease, and death have decreased overall. With government regulation, such as work safety laws and OSHA, worker advocacy, automation, better health and safety training, improved equipment, and much more have led to advances in the workplace that create a safer environment than that of the Industrial Revolution. However, work-related accidents still happen, and people can become seriously injured, to the point of permanent disability.

Certain industries are still considered hazardous by today’s standards. The top five hazardous industries are mining, construction, agriculture, transportation, and ship-breaking. Even typical office jobs, which involve sitting at a desk all day, can lead to injuries.  

If you have been injured while at work then you should seek medical attention. For serious injuries that require immediate care, go to a local urgent care or emergency room. Slips, trips, and falls are some of the most common types of injuries that occur in the workplace. These injuries can range in severity and might lead to chronic pain. A pain management doctor can properly track your pain to give you the best plan of care that is tailored to your individual needs. For optimal results, be sure to follow your physician’s instructions and recommendations and follow up with them as needed.  

If possible, only return to work when you are ready to help minimize exacerbating your injury and prolonging the recovery period. Going back before you are ready or your doctor gives the okay can lead to re-injury or making your existing injury worse. If you have any concerns about your injury and returning to work, please talk with our pain management staff to receive guidance and get answers to any questions you may have. 

Spinal injuries may require additional treatment to prevent long-term damage or chronic pain.  

Minimize Your Risk of a Work-Related Injury

Work-related injuries can be expensive, especially if workers compensation is not going to cover all of the costs, and can create long-term issues, such as chronic pain or a reduced ability to work. To lower your chances of being involved in a work-related accident that could result in injury, there are certain practices you can and should always engage in when at work.

• Participate in all work trainings to receive the proper knowledge of how to operate equipment safely and perform all other work functions with minimized risk. 
• With overextension injuries, which include those from the improper lifting of heavy objects, repetitive movement with no breaks, and continuous typing with improper technique, being a top reason people get hurt it is important to be cautious in how you move your body and take things slowly when possible. Also, take breaks and sit, if you’re on your feet all day, as often as you can and work laws guarantee so you can rest your body and give it the opportunity to recover. If you are in an office job then it is good to get up and move every so often and do some stretches. 
• Slips and falls are another big reason for injuries, so be aware of your surroundings and how you’re moving around.  
• Report anything you see that could be hazardous or you know is a safety issue. 
• Dress appropriately (with PPE as needed) so that no loose clothing can get snagged or chemicals can hurt you. 

Of course, you do not have control over when accidents occur, but it is best to take any actions to help protect yourself and others. 

Diagnosis of a Work-Related Injury

There are a few steps our physicians use when diagnosis your injury including:

• We take your complete medical history to identify or rule out possible causes of your pain and numbness 
• We conduct a thorough physical exam 
• We carefully review your symptoms, including how you would describe the pain (burning, achy, dull, etc.) and whether certain positions or activities make the pain feel better or worse 
• We may order diagnostic tests, including spine X-ray, bone density test, CT scan or MRI, to help us diagnose your chronic pain 

Once we have an accurate diagnosis, we will work together with you to create a treatment plan that will effectively address your injuries and chronic pain.