Illinois Workers' Compensation Attorneys Blog

When a job related injury causes back pain or leg pain it can be difficult to know whether surgery is necessary or if a more conservative method of treatment will be the best option. Many of our clients, from all over the Chicagoland area, have to struggle with this decision on their path to recovery. In considering the options available, it is important to understand each option and how it differs from alternative methods of treatment.

Conservative treatment specifically means those treatment options which are less invasive than actually opening up your body and allowing a doctor to operate. Medication can be one form of treatment for back and leg pain. Medication can help to reduce the pain and sometimes even reduce swelling while the doctor works with you to determine a solution which will have the best outcome. Physical therapy can help the patient gain mobility when joints have stopped moving and may be recommended by a doctor as another conservative treatment method. Manual manipulation is also available as a method of treatment. During this type of treatment, a chiropractor will make physical adjustments to the alignment without opening your body up to surgery. Also, epidural injections, are yet another way to manage pain without surgery.

Surgery is often considered to be a last resort by patients who fear "going under the knife." While it is irreversible and poses a greater risk than most other forms of treatment, it can also be the best option to relieve pain and get you back on your feet. However, surgery is not typically available as an option until a doctor has determined an anatomical cause of your pain to correct with the surgery. If they don't know what's wrong, they won't be able to fix it in the operating room. Even when they do know what is wrong, doctors sometimes debate which treatment is best. A recent study which compared conservative treatment techniques to early surgery found that the one year outcomes were similar no matter which option the patient chose. However, the study did find that early surgery was able to relieve the pain faster for some patients. Deciding what option will be best for your situation is a conclusion that can only be made with the assistance of a qualified doctor.

Both conservative treatment and the more invasive surgical options can be covered under Illinois workers' compensation so long as it can be established that the treatment is reasonable and necessary to treat the condition. If your doctor is recommending a specific course of treatment that has been denied, contact one of our experienced attorneys today so we can begin fighting for you. Only your doctor can help you decide which treatment option is best, but we can help make sure you get that treatment - along with all other benefits you deserve - so you can focus on recovery from your work injury.

http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa064039
http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/lower-back-pain/conservative-vs-surgical-care-lower-back-pain

As many injured workers in Illinois have discovered, living with lower back pain or sciatica can make even the simplest tasks difficult and painful. After being hurt at work, you shouldn't have to deal with low back pain on your own. As Illinois Workers' Compensation Attorneys, our firm has handled many cases on behalf of clients who suffered daily just by standing, bending or walking. Many of them saw their pain reduced as a result of Epidural Steroid Injections or aggressive physical therapy. While more of a temporary way to manage pain than a permanent solution to the problem, these injections often help when the pain is at its worst. Sometimes the injections will make rehabilitation therapy more bearable until the problem has been reduced to a manageable point.

The list of things which can cause lower back and leg pain is nearly endless. Injuries from bending, lifting, repeated sitting or leaning all can cause severe back pain. In some cases long hours of standing can be responsible for the pain. Lower back pain, which sometimes reaches into the legs, or sciatica, is most commonly caused by a Herniated Disc. However, other causes could be responsible for the pain.

Determining the source of the pain will require extensive work with a Doctor. Usually an MRI or CT Scan will be used to evaluate the spine. This will help the doctor identify stress spots and see if any discs have herniated. Once the doctor knows exactly what is causing the pain, it will be possible to determine what options for treatment are available.

While surgery is sometimes necessary, it is not always the most desirable option. Many doctors will prefer that certain types of pain be treated with rehabilitative therapy. But the therapy can be laborious and painful. In order to cope with the daily pain, Epidural Spinal Injections can help the doctor target the area causing the pain. These injections have been used by doctors since 1952. The injection allows a doctor to pinpoint the steroid treatment to the exact location of the pain. The steroid will also reduce the inflammation caused by the injury, helping make therapy easier. If the first injection works, a doctor may give up to three injections in a year. How long each injection is effective varies widely from case to case and sometimes even in the same patient.

Each one of our clients has come with a unique case and unique needs. Only a qualified doctor can determine exactly what will benefit your situation. That's why it is so important to ensure that your claim is handed correctly, so that the costs of your injury are not your chief concern as you recover. If you were injured on the job and suffer from low back pain, contact one of our experienced attorneys to ensure that your case will be handled properly and you receive the benefits you deserve.

Source: http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/injections/lumbar-epidural-steroid-injections-low-back-pain-and-sciatica