A workplace injury can wreak havoc on your health. Even a seemingly minor issue might end up being severe enough to cause permanent health problems. These injuries are common. The Kansas Division of Workers’ Compensation reports an annual average of 40,000 occupational illnesses or injuries. If you’ve been injured in the workplace, here are some ways to gain your health back afterward.
1. Listen to Your Doctors
You should get medical care for your workplace injury. It is very important that you listen to your doctors, even if you think you know what you’re doing. If you don’t agree with the doctor, you can get a second opinion. But don’t ignore their instructions. Otherwise, your injuries might not heal correctly or as quickly as you want them to. So make sure you understand everything your doctor tells you to do, then apply it to your everyday life. If you do so, you’ll find that your health improves faster.
2. Know Your Injury
You should also learn about your injury. Talk to your doctor about what exactly is wrong with your body. For instance, you might have a temporomandibular joint and muscle disorder. This accounts for 5% to 12% of cases. If you know that this is your specific injury, you can take steps to personalize your recovery. Knowing what is going on in your body can also be very empowering. You’ll understand your treatments better and feel more confident about what is happening. This empowerment is also good for your mood, which can have a major impact on your health.
3. Stay In Contact With Your Employer
As you recover, make sure that you’re staying connected with your workplace. While you likely aren’t working your employer needs to make sure that they have all the information they need in order to accomplish everything they need with insurance, workers’ compensation, and any legal requirements. Depending on your injury and your workplace, they’ll likely need different information from you and your doctor. Stay in touch so that nothing goes wrong. Then you won’t need to worry about losing coverage for your healthcare.
4. Remember Your Mental Health
A workplace injury can take a toll on your mental health. It’s often a sudden occurrence and can affect the rest of your life. Be kind to yourself and make sure you’re taking the time to check in with your mental well-being too. If you’ve been through a traumatic event, you might develop symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, which can negatively impact your health. Consider working with a psychiatrist in the aftermath of your injury.
5. Don’t Rush Recovery
Unfortunately, you can’t rush recovery from a workplace injury. While some injuries will clear up relatively quickly, others will take a long time to heal. Don’t pressure yourself to work again too early. If you aren’t recovered enough, you might actually hurt yourself further. So listen to your doctors and be honest about how you feel. If you’re in pain or having difficulty moving, you need to listen to your body. Don’t feel guilty that you aren’t working.
You should also avoid pressure from your employer to come in before you are recovered. While many workplaces are staffed with understanding managers, some people might not be so patient. If your boss is pressuring you to come back to work against your doctor’s advice, don’t do it. You might end up hurting yourself even more. The American Bar Association (ABA) study found that the majority of U.S. lawyers (28%) are 45-54 years old. So, if you need legal assistance with this, you’re likely to find an attorney with years of experience.
When dealing with a workplace injury, it is important to take care of your body and mind. If you apply these tips to your recovery, you will be in a much better place to gain your health back.
