Back pain is a very common health issue that affects people from all backgrounds and professions. Certain professions do have higher risks. If you work in health care, for example, you have roughly a 70% chance of developing back issues. Anyone who lifts or twists on the job could suffer a serious back injury.
Despite their prevalence and how much they can affect someone’s quality of life and ability to work, back injuries are among the medical issues people are most likely to ignore or downplay at first. A surprising number of adults try to continue working when they have intense back pain on the job and may put off getting medical care. Doing so could be a major mistake.
Back issues will likely get worse if ignored
If you overexert yourself and your arm muscles are sore, you probably know that if you continue working, that pain will go away after a few days. Back pain, however, is often not the result of muscular overexertion but rather issues with the joints. It can get worse and even reach a point where treatment will not fully address the pain symptoms you have.
Your best hope of being able to continue your work and enjoying a good quality of life in the future will come from reporting the issue to your employer, seeking medical attention and following medical recommendations regarding your treatment and your job performance. Workers’ compensation benefits can help you by paying for medical care and giving you financial compensation for your missed days at work.
Knowing what steps to take, like filing a workers’ compensation claim, can help you better manage the practical consequences of a back injury.