Work Injuries

Nearly 13,000 employees experience work injuries. Our jobs are a necessity of life. They provide income for our families and help us create the life we dream of. We spend most of our adult lives working at our jobs, and with so much time being spent in one place, there is a high potential for minor or even major injuries. The most common types of work injuries are sprains/tears, cuts & lacerations, and soreness. From passive work injuries like carpal tunnel to back pain from heavy lifting to a fracture due to a fall, we can treat your work injuries and provide you with the most effective treatments and the best chance for a full recovery.

What To Do If You've Sustained a Work Injury

If you are dealing with pain from a workplace injury, you should first contact your physician and schedule an appointment so he or she can assess the situation. Then, you should contact your HR department and file a full report. Be sure to ask questions about your company’s worker’s compensation policy. Worker’s compensation can be a great way to cover some of the medical expenses that result from your injury, and it can replace lost wages if you’re out of work for an extended period of time. In order for you to be eligible for workman’s comp, you must be injured performing a task directly related to work, either on or off of the company premises.

Click on a body part to learn more about symptoms and treatments related to work injury
Click on a body part to learn more about symptoms and treatments related to work injury

Common Work Place Injuries

Exertion is the defining factor in most workplace injuries. Overexertion is caused by moderate to intense physical labor. This type of injury is often seen in first responders and construction workers. If you work in either of these fields or a related field, it is very important for you to use the proper support devices like back or knee braces. Our orthopedic doctors can assist you with the physical therapy you will need to rehabilitate stress-related injuries. For the sprains, tears, strains, and fractures that are so common in cases of workplace injury, orthopedic medicine offers a specialized approach to diagnosing and treating conditions.

Conditions like tendonitis, bursitis, or carpal tunnel syndrome can develop in employees whose jobs require staying in the same physical position or repeating the same motion over an extended period, like typing at a computer for hours every day or doing assembly line work. The chiropractors on our team are experts in the alignment of the spine. They can assess your pain related to repetitive injuries and work to realign your spine. When your body is in proper alignment, all of the components of it that might have been giving you trouble will experience relief.

Slip and fall injuries are very common work injuries. Employees who are at a significantly greater risk of a slip and fall injury are those in the nursing field, those in the hospitality industry, individuals who manage properties, and those in security-related roles. Employees who use a vehicle for their job are at risk for auto accident injuries that can be quite severe. These more severe injuries can result in dramatic harm to your head, neck, and spine. Spinal cord injuries are very serious and can leave an individual with lasting pain. Head or brain injuries often cause drastic side effects for patients to manage, especially if they aren’t addressed swiftly.

Diagnostics

X-rays

Workplace injuries are not at all uncommon and can be as minor as strains to ligaments, and as concerning as fractures and internal bleeding. X-rays will confirm if your body has sustained skeletal trauma.

LEARN MORE
CT scans

CT scans will be performed to evaluate the state of your soft tissue in the area of your injury and with the use of the cross-sectional images it provides, your physician can better assess and treat your pain.

LEARN MORE

Treatment and Rehabilitation for Work Injuries

If you have been injured in a workplace accident that has left you hurting, the specialists at AICA Orthopedics have the diagnostic equipment and know-how to help resolve your pain. Our team has access to state-of-the-art technology, including X-rays to assess your skeletal damage, MRIs that give a picture of what your soft tissue injuries look like, and CT scans which round out the composite images of your combined injuries. With them, we can quickly determine the extent of your injuries and develop a treatment plan that is right for your individualized needs. A correct and comprehensive diagnosis is key to the success of your treatment so call our office and make an appointment today. Time is a key component to a successful recovery and to ensuring worker’s compensation is received. Allow our doctors to get you back to work as quickly and painlessly as possible after your work injury.

Causes of Workplace Injuries and Prevention

Work injuries can occur to anyone in any profession, but there are certain lines of work that lend themselves to a higher rate of workplace incidents. Some professions entail a certain level of danger simply by their nature. First responders like firefighters, police, and EMT’s carry the highest level of risk. Next are those who need to travel in large vehicles as a means of accomplishing their work, such as those in the transportation and shipping industries. Manufacturing and production workers are more likely to sustain injuries because of their close proximity to heavy machinery and equipment. Maintenance and construction workers are also at a greater risk than most because of their work with power tools and usage of ladders and other equipment that requires extra vigilance.

Employing simple precautions in your everyday work can prevent many workplace incidents.

  • Take breaks throughout your workday or shift
  • Avoid twisting or bending when you need to lift heavy objects
  • Don’t leave heavy objects up high where they will need to be moved frequently
  • Always keep an eye on the goings-on around you; equipment that is currently functioning, machines being used, etc.
  • Wear proper protection and safety gear
  • Keep workspaces clean-free of spills and flooring that is in disrepair

No matter how much emphasis is placed on prevention and safety, accidents will occur and injuries will arise. If you or someone you know is injured in the course of regular work, contact the doctors and specialists at AICA Orthopedics today to begin your journey to recovery.