Workers’ Compensation for Your Back Injury

One of the most serious injuries you can get is a back injury. When this happens and you are working on the job, you may be unsure of what to do. Often, employees do not wish to rock the boat or cause a scene, so they may downplay their injuries or say they do not hurt as badly as they actually do. However, it is of extreme importance that you get the medical help you need as quickly as possible and report your injuries to your supervisor. You should never be scared to go to your supervisor about an injury you sustained at work, especially as it relates to your back. This could cause permanent, future back problems if you do not get the help you need immediately. Contact a workers’ compensation lawyer, like a workers’ compensation lawyer in Oak Creek, WI, for more information on how he or she could help you gain compensation for hurting your back on the job. 

What are the common back injuries you can sustain at work?

While this can depend on your line of work (you may expect more severe back injuries from someone who works on a construction site than someone who works a desk job) it is important to be honest about the pain level you are experiencing. 

1. A Strained Back. Back strains can happen to anyone, whether you were pushing or pulling an item that was far too heavy or bending over and reaching for an object. While it may not sound serious, overstretching your back muscles can tear those fibers and cause you to need to go on leave and take heavy medication. 
2. Herniated Discs. When something inside your body is leaking and it is not supposed to, you know something is wrong. A spinal disc may leak fluid or even burst if the cartilage inside is weak. As the inner cartilage in the spinal disc pushes outward, it can push against nerves which may cause massive amounts of pain. You should seek medical care as soon as you believe a herniated or bulging disc to be the problem. 
3. Spinal Cord Damage. When your spinal cord becomes damaged it can affect your brain’s ability to communicate with the rest of your body. This can be minor or extremely severe. In really bad cases, you could be permanently paralyzed. It is imperative that the first thing you do is seek medical attention to ensure you are getting the help you need from a doctor. You also want to make sure you let your supervisor know as quickly as possible if you have a spinal cord injury.

A back injury is a serious injury that you should never worry about when it comes to paying for the medical bills if you sustained this injury on the job. If you need help filing a workers’ compensation claim for a back injury, please contact an attorney today.

Thanks to Hickey & Turim Attorneys at Law for their insight into getting workers’ compensation for a back injury.