Illinois Workers' Compensation Attorneys Blog

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

As Illinois Workers' Compensation attorneys, we represent a lot of workers who develop back injuries on the job. Our clients worked hard in Chicago, Joliet, Wheaton, Waukegan, Rockford, Kankakee, and all across the state of Illinois, some of them for many years, and deserve to receive compensation for their missed work and medical expenses.

One back injury we see frequently is the herniated disc. A herniated disc, also called a slipped disc or ruptured disc can be extremely painful. The actual injury occurs to a disc in the client's spine. The discs are small cushions between each of the vertebrae in the spine. When they are functioning properly, the discs act as small shock-absorbers but with the added feature of flexibility to allow the spine to bend. Discs from any portion of the spine can be damaged, but herniated discs most frequently occur in the lower back. These injuries are often caused by a single injury, such as while bending to pick something up or lift a heavy object. While standing or sitting straight, the pressure is equal across all discs. But when the spine bends, certain discs receive much more of the pressure. Herniated discs, especially when they occur in the lower back, can cause pain all the way down to the feet. These injuries often affect the sciatic nerve, causing sciatica to occur. This can cause pain in the thigh, buttocks, legs and feet. These aren't necessarily the result of a second injury, but occur because of the way a single nerve runs from the spine down to the lower leg.

Symptoms frequently only occur on one side of the body because the nerve runs separately down each leg. As with any injury, diagnosis from a trained physician is imperative. The doctor may decide to conduct x-rays, a CT scan or MRI in order to determine if the pain is being caused by a herniated disc. Narrowed space between the vertebrae will often show the doctor that the cause of the pain is a ruptured disc. Herniated discs can occur as the result of a single injury, or over time as the result of repeated work. It is important to alert a doctor to any pain or discomfort in the back, as even minor pain can become worse over time if not properly attended to. Some studies have shown that even people with no symptoms can have herniated discs when evaluated by a doctor. Since no one can simply look into a spine the way they can see a wound or rash, it is necessary to report pain as soon as it starts. Once diagnosed, physical therapy and possibly surgery can help to alleviate the problem.

If you or someone you know suffers with pain from a herniated disc as the result of a work activity, call one of the experienced attorneys in our office. We will fight to make sure that you get the treatment you deserve, and the time off you need to get your life back to normal.

http://www.webmd.com/back-pain/tc/herniated-disc-topic-overview

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/93635-overview

Your back was hurt at work, and your doctor says you need a back fusion or a spinal fusion. This is a serious surgical procedure, and you should be aware of what it is, and how an Illinois workers' compensation attorney can help you.

Usually back surgery is a method of last resort or emergency, as doctors will attempt other conservative methods such as physical therapy and chiropractic care to encourage a disc to heal naturally before resorting to surgery. Similarly, a doctor or pain management specialist may try to alleviate the pain associated with spinal injuries with steroid injections. However, when these courses of treatment fail to provide adequate relief, surgery may be recommended.

Fusions are one of the many different types of surgery used to treat back injuries and the pain associated with them. They are commonly prescribed to treat degenerative disc disease or recurrent disc herniations. The procedure involves joining two or more vertebrae together (fusing them) in order to decrease abnormal motion between the bones, and reduce or eliminate the pain associated with such motion.

However, different doctors may diagnose the underlying back injury differently, or determine that it is not severe enough to warrant major surgery. This differing of opinions can lead to disputes and delays in your care and treatment. If your doctor believes that a spinal fusion is necessary for your recovery from a work injury, a workers' compensation attorney can fight to make sure that you receive it. Furthermore, they can fight to ensure that you receive all other benefits you are entitled to under Illinois Workers' Compensation law, including compensation for the time you miss from work while recovering from your surgery. It is important when dealing with any work injury to have a knowledgeable advocate on your side.

Many Illinois workers suffer injuries to their back or neck that result in herniated discs. Herniated discs are fairly common injuries that can cause significant pain that at times can travel down the arms or legs. There are a variety of different treatment methods for herniated discs:

Conservative Care - Physical therapy and/or chiropractic treatment may be used to encourage the disc to heal naturally. A majority of herniated discs can be healed this way, with results coming in just a few weeks or months.

Injections - Epidural steroid injections are often used to alleviate the pain associated with herniated discs, although they do not actually treat the disc itself.

Surgery - If conservative treatment fails, or if the herniation is severe, surgery may be required. There are many different types of surgery that could be necessary depending on the nature of the injury.

However, diagnosis of herniated discs and the treatment they require can be disputed issues between doctors. Different doctors may read MRIs to indicate different things, and sometimes what one doctor thinks is a herniation, another may simply call a "bulge" or a "back sprain or strain". Furthermore, doctors may differ in their opinions of whether the herniation is severe enough to warrant injections, surgery, or other treatment options above and beyond conservative care.

If you are injured at work and your doctor believes any specific type of treatment is necessary to resolve your pain, a workers' compensation attorney can fight to make sure that you receive it. You are entitled to receive all reasonable and necessary medical care for you work injury, as well as compensation for any time you are forced to miss from work while the injury heals. Just as herniated discs are common injuries among workers, they are common cases for workers' compensation attorneys to handle, and their experience in dealing with the differing opinions of doctors makes them an important ally to have on your side when fighting to get the treatment and benefits you deserve.

Many workers in Illinois suffer from back pain caused by a herniated disc. It is important to understand your condition and whether it may be compensable under Illinois workers' compensation law.

In between each of the vertebrae in your spine, there is spongy material called a disc. Discs cushion the bones in the spine and act as shock absorbers for everyday wear and tear. In the event of an injury to the spine, a disc may rupture or bulge out of place, causing the disc to become herniated. This type of injury may occur suddenly, such as with a fall or other accident, or it may be the result of repetitive straining of the spine.

If a disc bulges out from between two vertebrae, it can press on the nerves in the spine, causing pain. This pain may travel, or "radiate" down your arms (if the herniated disc is in your neck), or down your legs (if the injury is in your lower back). Other symptoms of a herniated disc include numbness and tingling, muscle weakness, and perhaps bladder and bowel problems. If your symptoms are severe, it is important to seek medical treatment right away.

A herniated disc is typically diagnosed through physical examination by a doctor or with the use of an MRI or CT scan. Once it is determined that a herniated disc exists, your doctor will help you come up with a treatment plan. Many times, a herniated disc will resolve on its own within a few weeks or months. Your doctor may also recommend home exercise and physical therapy. Unfortunately, medication will not "cure" a herniated disc, although it may help to reduce pain and swelling. If conservative treatment options do not work to alleviate symptoms, surgery might be necessary to remove or repair the broken disc.

A herniated disc can cause serious or permanent disability and affect your ability to work. If you believe that your herniated disc is the result of an injury at work, report the injury to your employer and consult an Illinois work injury attorney today.

You might be wrong about your back pain. Back pain is not always a result of aging. Sometimes, back pain is due to an injury received on the job, meaning you are eligible for workers' compensation benefits. The most common back injury resulting from work place injuries is a herniated disc. As we age, our ligaments and discs age and degenerate making us more susceptible to injury. Injuries to our aging backs can be caused by lifting, twisting or bending.

Although easily injured, herniated disc and back injuries are rarely easily fixed and result in numerous painful and uncomfortable symptoms.

Common symptoms include:
-pain in the lower back
-radiating or shooting pain down the leg or the arms
-increased pain upon standing or sitting
-numbness
-tingling

If you've experienced any of these symptoms and think it could possibly be related to a work injury, you should contact your medical doctor. Additionally, your Illinois Work Injury Attorney can help you figure out your options.

If you are injured while at work, regardless of whose fault it is, you may have a right to compensation. Workers' compensation is a state-mandated insurance program that provides compensation to employees who suffer job related injuries. Common job related injuries include herniated disc, carpal tunnel and other strains.

Herniated discs can be caused by repeated stress, lifting and violent twisting. Carpal tunnel is frequently caused by repeated use of the wrist and can result in pain and weakness in the hand.

If anything at work has caused you injury or illness then you may be qualified for some type of compensation. Contact your Illinois Work Injury Attorney to find out what options you have.

Injuries at work can happen to anyone, not just the heavy laborers. Even injuries like herniated discs which are normally associated with lifting heavy objects can happen to anyone. A herniated disc can be caused by any type of intense pressure. In fact, herniated discs are most commonly caused by:

-a fall or accident
-repeated strain
-a sudden strain on the back from lifting or twisting

The most important symptom that signals the possibility of a herniated disc is pain. Other symptoms include tingling sensation, numbness and radiating pain. Keep in mind that herniated discs can happen anywhere along the back or in the neck and sometimes the pain does not begin immediately after an injury.

If you think you have a herniated disc related to a work activity, contact your Illinois Work Injury Attorney.

Strains and sprains are the most common workplace injuries. (http://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2005/mar/wk4/art05.htm). On each side of a joint, muscles attach to bone with bands of tissue known as tendons. A strain happens when the muscle and tendon group is stretched or torn. A strain is commonly referred to as a pulled muscle. It can occur in three different ways: the muscle can tear, the area where the muscle and tendon attach can tear, or the tendon can rip away from the bone. The most common cause of a strain is overuse and stretching of the muscle.
A sprain occurs if a ligament is stretched or torn. A ligament is also a thick band of tissue, but ligaments connect bones to other bones and stabilize joints. A strain or sprain injury can occur from a single incident like a fall or lifting a heavy object at work. However, a strain or sprain can also develop gradually after many repetitions of a motion. Chronic overuse of a joint can lead the ligament to stretch, the tendon to become irritated, or the joint to become inflamed. The common factor among causes is stress on the body that forces muscles or joints to move in unnatural ways. The risk of a strain or sprain is increased if you are overweight, inactive, or in poor physical condition. To prevent strains and sprains, muscles should be warmed up before work or any other activity that results in a repetitive motion.
The initial symptom of strains and sprains is pain. Other symptoms usually include swelling and spasm which can develop within minutes or hours. Pain can onset after a specific incident or gradually worsen after a series of repetitive motions. With strains and sprains, the pain can increase over the first one to two days. Usually, the combination of symptoms results in difficulty using the injured body part.
Treatment for a strain or sprain should begin immediately. If home care does not control the pain, the injury is severe, numbness or tingling develop, the injured joint is cold or discolored, the joint is dislocated, or swelling slowly develops over a large joint, you should visit a doctor as soon as possible. A doctor will ask questions about the accident, perform a physical examination, and may suggest taking x-rays. Most strains and sprains will heal naturally, but severe strains or sprains may require surgery. An improperly healed strain or sprain can leave the joint susceptible to further injury.
If you believe that you have suffered a strain or sprain while at work, it is important to see a doctor and contact your Illinois Worker's Compensation Attorney. An experienced Illinois Worker's Compensation Attorney will ensure your injury is dealt with effectively, that your doctor understands the legal implications of your injury, and that your employer handles your claim effectively and efficiently.

A Herniated disc is a common form of work related injury which occurs when the small, flat discs that cushion the spine bulge or break open. Herniated discs can occur anywhere on the spine, but are most common in the lower back and the neck.

Herniated discs are caused by the degeneration of the disc, aging or injury to the spine. Degeneration may result from tiny tears or cracks in the outer shell of the disc. Injury can occur from a sudden, heavy strain or increased pressure to the lower back. Repetitive work related activities, as well as prolonged exposure to vibration increase the risk of disc herniation. The most common causes of herniated disc are:

• A fall or accident
• Repeated straining of your back
• A sudden strain on the back from lifting or twisting violently

Symptoms of a herniated disc depends on its position. Symptoms may begin gradually or suddenly. Aching in the back or neck or being unable to straighten without extreme pain are signs of herniated disc problems. Numbness, tingling, or weakness in one or both arms is another sign of herniated discs.

Herniated disc can cause serious or permanent disability and affect your ability to work. If you have been injured immediately report the injury to your employer and consult an Illinois Work Injury Attorney today.

Herniated Disc: Diagnosis/Treatment