Back injuries are very common at work. Some of them may be minor. Perhaps you tried to pick up something heavy and tweaked your back, and it hurts badly enough that you need to go home for the day. But you don’t believe it’s going to be a long-term issue, as you just have a muscle strain that needs rest.
The problem, though, is that people sometimes assume they have a minor injury when it’s actually very serious and needs immediate medical attention. Experts note that any back injury that comes from an accident – like falling from a ladder – should get medical attention just to be sure that it isn’t serious. But there are also some symptoms you can look for to determine when advanced medical care is needed.
Top symptoms to watch for
Below are some of the main symptoms to watch for if you have suffered a back injury on the job:
- Pain that gets worse with time, rather than decreasing.
- Pain that lasts for a long time, such as lasting for a month or not improving at all over a few days.
- Pain that is so severe it wakes you up in the middle of the night.
- Difficulty breathing and other such symptoms.
- A feeling of weakness or numbness, especially in the extremities.
- Difficulty with motor function below the injury site.
If you see any of these symptoms, then it is important to talk to a doctor and get prompt care. If left untreated, a serious back injury could become a disability that alters the rest of your life.
Because this injury happened at work, though, it’s also important to look into your rights to seek workers’ comp benefits to cover the cost of those medical bills, lost wages and more.
