As children, we led very active lives. We ran around and would get yelled at for not sitting still. Some of us still have those tendencies to move around as adults. Have you tried sitting still for more than an hour without moving anything? The truth is that our bodies are made to move. They are not meant to stay in one position for very long. Writers at Spine-Health mention that the body often gets uncomfortable if you stay in one position for more than 20 minutes. Think about how often you move your feet, legs, or hands while awake, sitting, standing, or lying down. The body likes to move. This is also why some find it cruel to expect children to sit nicely at desks for hours. If we can’t expect our children to do it, then why should we?
Many children don’t grow up thinking they will land a desk job. Even in college, many did not conceive the monotony of having a desk job. Yet, the majority of jobs in the United States require lots of sitting or lots of standing. Either way, you are bound to hurt your back or neck. For example, if you are working as a factory worker, constantly standing on concrete floors can cause back pain. The problem is that when you stay in one position, your body loses its elasticity, and stress builds up in the joints. This can cause inflammation, slip discs, fractures, and lots and lots of pain.
Other ways in which you can injure your back and neck are through repetitive moves. If you work in health care, you may be familiar with moving the same way over and over if you do sonogram work, for instance. Those who work in the service industry are constantly picking up trays. The same movement over and over can cause real stress in the back and neck, which leads to pain. This pain worsens to the point where you may be unable to continue your job. Another way to hurt your back and neck is if your job requires heavy lifting or if you are fatigued. No one wants to do things when tired, but if you are prone to fatigue, working at a job that requires heavy lifting or a sedentary life can cause real stress.
It is helpful to know what you are getting yourself into when you apply for a job; after all, you want to ensure you are the right fit. It is encouraged that you research to gain more insight and knowledge on what is expected of you and what your daily tasks will entail. Certain jobs are more commonly associated with workplace back and neck injuries, so it is better to know ahead of time what exactly you are getting yourself into. As mentioned above, workplace back and neck injuries have many different causes, ranging from falling, repetitive movements and stress injuries, lifting heavy objects, and sudden motions that cause strain, sprains, or herniated disks. The jobs that are known to have a higher number of workplace neck and back injuries are:
- Construction.
- Electricians.
- Plumbers.
- Metalworkers and machinists.
- Factory workers.
- Medical professionals.
- Office workers (repetitive motions).
- Mining and logging.
- Agricultural workers.
Each position requires workers to move around a lot, putting their backs and necks at a greater risk of injury.
Common work injuries that go hand in hand with the job-specific to you are herniated disks, slipped disks, injuries to the lower back, spinal cord injuries, whiplash, torn ligaments, and muscle strains and sprains.
Workplace back and neck injuries are dangerous for a variety of reasons. If you think about it, your spine extends through your neck and back. All the nerves, muscles, ligaments, and bones are essential to your body’s movement. However, the overall role is to protect the spinal cord. Should your spinal cord be injured, you are more likely to suffer from paralysis. Spinal cord injuries aren’t always fixable either, which sets you up for a lifetime of intensive medical care. You may not be able to work in the same capacity after your injury. Back and neck injuries should not be taken anything but seriously.
Benefits available for workplace neck and back injuries vary by state, but overall, you have the right to file a workers’ compensation claim. Workers’ compensation allows for the injured worker to receive benefits like temporary total disability payments, partial disability payments, permanent and total disability payments, medical benefits, and vocational rehabilitation.
Workers’ compensation is intimidating, but you do not have to stress. Our team will help you understand your rights under the workers’ compensation system and provide you with as much representation as possible to the insurance company during any hearings that may occur because of denial. It can be a long and grueling process, but with the right attorneys, you will never have to worry about the case results. The only part our lawyers want you to focus on is your recovery. Get all the medical care you need immediately. Never underestimate the severity of a back or neck injury. Then, once under medical care, you can speak with a personal injury attorney to handle your claim.
If you or a loved one is experiencing back and neck injuries in the workplace, do not fear. Our Los Angeles workers’ compensation attorneys at JML Law, a Professional Law Corporation, are here to guide you through the workers’ compensation process. Each year, billions of dollars are spent on medical expenses or loss of wages to those who correctly file a workers’ compensation claim. Hiring our workers’ compensation attorneys increases the likelihood of a successful claim. Call 818-610-8800 or click here to discuss how we can better serve you today.
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