Why Office Workers May Suffer From Upper Back Pain, Too

Why Office Workers May Suffer From Upper Back Pain, Too
Many workers run the risk of developing an upper back pain injury, and office workers are included in this group. These types of injuries are actually more common among office workers than many people realize. Even though desk jobs are typically not labor-intensive, sedentary jobs have been known to cause significant stress to muscles throughout the arms, neck, and back.

Repetitive Stress Injuries

Most types of repetitive stress injuries involve repetitive motions. For example, employees who work primarily on computers may develop a condition called carpal tunnel syndrome, which occurs when the hands and wrists are under constant stress. Upper back pain may manifest as a repetitive stress injury if a worker is required to sit or stand and perform the same job task for a long period of time.

Documenting the Injury

These types of injuries rarely occur in a single accident. Rather, they tend to develop over time and slowly worsen. This can make it difficult for employees to provide concrete documentation of their injury but it doesn’t mean that it’s impossible to file a workers’ compensation claim.

There are certain ways that an employee might be able to provide adequate documentation of the development of a repetitive stress injury. A long employment record and description of job responsibilities, for example, may serve as important documentation. Alerting the employer of a potential stress injury is another way to create documentation.

Finally, seeking medical attention is an important form of documentation in any workers’ compensation case. First and foremost, it’s a good idea to have a medical professional examine your injury and provide any necessary treatment, so as to lessen the pain and help the injury heal. It’s also important to have a medical examination so that you may have proof that you were experiencing worsening symptoms over a period of time.

Contact a Work Injury Attorney New York Trusts

It may not be wise to attempt working through pain in the upper back area, because it could easily become a detriment to ongoing health. Pain is always an indication that something is wrong physically, and it is important to respond to the message. As soon as you realize there is a medical problem, it may be important to consult with an attorney. An experienced workers’ compensation attorney may be able to help you file a claim successfully.

Don’t ignore a potential injury compensation claim, especially when it could be a component of a disability claim. You work for your compensation rights, and your attorney can do the fighting for you while you focus on rehabilitation.