About Workers’ Comp Injuries
Injuries can happen at any time. You can pull a muscle, rupture a hamstring, or suffer moderate to intense back injury. But any injury sustained on the job requires special attention – worker’s comp care. If you work in a factory, a store, or an office environment, you risk a back injury anytime. At our office, worker’s comp care can address back pain from standing too long or sitting in a chair incorrectly.
Process of Care
Workerss comp care begins with quality chiropractic care. The best care should target the source of the problem and not just treat the symptoms. You’ll first have a consultation with one of our chiropractors. We’ll ask questions regarding your injury, including location, how it happened, and how it’s affecting your life. We’ll also want to know your overall health and fitness goals.
Your employer or office manager should be able to help you navigate and fill out the paperwork needed to have services covered. They can inform you of your rights under worker’s comp care and answer any other questions.
$99 New Patient Special
Includes Consultation, Exam, Doctors Report of Findings, X-Rays (if necessary)
How Our Care Plan Works
1. Better
Initially, our number one priority is less pain, improved range of motion and better sleep. This is the active phase of the plan where we significantly tackle the acute phase of the injury to get you feeling your absolute best as quickly as possible.
2. Stronger
In the corrective phase, we work not only improve how you feel, but how you function. In this phase, we avoid taking two steps forward and ten steps back by focusing on structural correction. We want you to get back to doing the things that you love without re-injury. At GBC, we are foot on the gas!
3. Healthier
It doesn’t make sense to get you better, just for it to all go bad again! We want you feeling and functioning your best for years to come. This phase ensures that you maintain all of the amazing progress you have made.
Common Injuries Sustained From Work In East Greenwich, RI
Getting injured is something most of us wish to avoid every day. Yet most of us who go to work are prone to injury. Factory jobs where you stand most of the day are the most likely environments with the unwanted side effects of musculoskeletal injuries. This is where worker’s comp care comes in.
Warehouses are another prime example of a situation where these injuries might occur. You can get a spinal injury from incorrectly lifting a box or a heavy object. Most major employers often train teams to lift using their legs rather than their backs.
Some of the most common musculoskeletal injuries incurred at work are:
- Slips, trips, and falls: If you’re working in an area with wet, oily, or icy floors, or a poorly lit area with holes or objects lying around, your risk of injury will increase.
- Injuries from repetition, such as carpal tunnel syndrome: Actions such as typing can be a root cause for this issue. Other repetitive actions, such as constant turning of the wrist, may play a role.
- Muscle strains: Strains can occur in your upper, middle, or lower back due to too much pulling when reaching. Heavy loads can be another culprit.
- Equipment-related injuries: Falling objects or accidents can result in moderate to severe injury and pain.
- Crashes and collisions: If you drive a forklift or operate a motor vehicle, you run the risk of a fatal crash. This can happen when drivers are overworked, exhausted, or intoxicated.
- Injuries sustained from a sedentary workplace: Sitting for hours at a time is a potential risk factor for back pain or injury. We recommend that you stand up and stretch to lower your injury risk. You should also be aware of when you’re slouching or slumping over and try to sit up straight at all times.
The most common workplace injuries typically involve your back and spine. Overexertion, straining, and lifting heavy objects can result in injuries to the back and spine. Other contributing factors include unsteady or collapsing work structures, excessive clutter that leads to tripping, or pushing or pulling too much weight at once. Even repetitive work without a break can result in injuries requiring worker’s comp care.
How We Treat Workers’ Comp Injuries in East Greenwich, RI
Thankfully, there are a variety of services a chiropractor can offer. Each is provided through worker’s comp care and can be covered by your employer’s insurance. Your chiropractor can do the following:
- Chiropractic adjustments
- Massage therapy
- Decompression therapy
- Therapeutic exercises
Specific Chiropractic Adjustments in East Greenwich, RI
Worker’s care comp can cover chiropractic adjustments. Chiropractic adjustments typically involve using hands or a small instrument to target a distressed or injured spinal joint. Chiropractors locate areas of spinal misalignment. These misalignments cause pain and interfere with proper nerve flow. Correcting these misalignments reduces nerve tension, relieving pain and optimizing the nervous system to function properly and accelerate healing.
Therapeutic Exercises
When you’re suffering extreme spinal pain, the first thing that hits your mind is to lay around with an ice or a heat pack. But there’s evidence that proves that lying around may worsen your symptoms. Movement may feel somewhat painful but will have longer-lasting benefits for your recovery. There are a few simple therapeutic exercises that help. Your chiropractor will prescribe specific exercises based on your consultation, exam, and goals. The exercises are designed to address your particular needs.
Decompression Therapy
Imagine being unable to move without wincing or almost wanting to scream. Back pain can feel almost eternal for those reasons. It appears as though there’s no end in sight. But there is relief, and that relief is called decompression therapy, which is a part of worker’s comp care.
Decompression is an excellent treatment for disc injuries, including bulged and herniated discs. Chiropractors use this nonsurgical approach to put negative pressure on the spine, relieving tension on the spinal discs. The discs have room to return to their normal shape as nutrients flood the discs to encourage healing.
Massage Therapy
Massage helps break down scar tissue and relieve muscle tension that may be causing pain or nerve impingement. Massage benefits include:
- Decreased stress and increased relaxation
- Reduction of muscle pain and soreness
- Improved circulation and general awareness
- Lower blood pressure and lower heart rate
- Immune system boost
All these benefits can improve the quality of your life at work and at home. With improved overall health, getting more done at work is much easier. Improved moods can increase your energy and boost your concentration. Most importantly, they can treat your injured spine and have you back to work in almost no time. That’s the power of worker’s comp care.
Frequently Asked Questions
How soon after a work-related injury should I seek chiropractic care?
It’s advisable to seek chiropractic care promptly after a work injury to prevent complications and facilitate a smoother recovery process.
Can chiropractic treatment help with common workers’ comp injuries like back strains?
Yes, chiropractic care can effectively treat back strains by addressing misalignments, reducing inflammation, and restoring proper function through manual adjustments and therapy.
What documentation do I need to provide to my chiropractor for workers’ comp claims?
Your chiropractor will require relevant medical records, incident reports, and authorization from your employer or insurance provider to initiate treatment under workers’ comp.
Are there any limitations to the number of chiropractic sessions covered by workers’ comp?
The number of chiropractic sessions covered by workers’ comp may vary based on your injury severity, treatment plan, and insurer’s guidelines, typically with a predefined limit.
Can chiropractic care help me return to work sooner after a work-related injury?
Yes, chiropractic care focuses on restoring musculoskeletal health, reducing pain, and improving function, which can expedite your recovery and facilitate an earlier return to work.
Will I need to pay for chiropractic care upfront for my workers’ comp injury?
In most cases, chiropractors who accept workers’ comp patients will bill the insurance provider directly, sparing you from upfront payments for covered treatments related to your work injury.
How can chiropractic care complement other treatments I’m receiving for my workers’ comp injury?
Chiropractic care can complement traditional medical treatments by providing non-invasive methods to alleviate pain, improve mobility, and support overall rehabilitation efforts for your work-related injury.
$99 New Patient Special
Includes Consultation, Exam, Doctors Report of Findings, X-Rays (if necessary)
