Back injuries have an enormous impact on the body as a whole. Even a small injury can potentially take a person out of commission for a lengthy amount of time.
In what physical ways do back injuries tend to manifest? What impacts do they have?
First signs of physical duress
Mayo Clinic discusses the physical impact of back injuries. Typically, back injuries do make themselves known immediately with pain and inflammatory responses.
The victim will often feel acute pain in the affected area first, which may fade to more dull or generalized pain. Swelling often occurs soon after. This can make it harder for the victim to bend, move or even support his or her own weight.
What does healing look like?
Physically speaking, the most important part for back injury sufferers is to encourage healing through the reduction of inflammation.
It can take weeks for the injury to pass through the inflammatory stage. During that time, an injury victim should not do anything excessive that involves the injured area of their back. This may mean not lifting things of a certain weight, not standing for an entire shift or needing other reasonable accommodations.
Can physical impacts affect income?
Of course, the big concern for many workers is how they can continue working with a debilitating back injury.
Many will have to take weeks of leave in order to fully recover, with some even needing months. This can create a tricky situation when it comes to pay versus bills, and it is why victims should understand their options when dealing with compensation.