What Are Work Injuries?

Work or occupational injuries are any kind of injuries, illnesses, or diseases arising “out of “and during your employment. They are many factors that may contribute to, aggravate, or expose you to these injuries in the work environment, including:

• Physical tasks
• Workplace temperatures
• Employee burnout
• Noise
• Radiation

A comprehensive evaluation is the first step in diagnosing and formulating a treatment plan for workplace injuries. Noninvasive care is the first step in helping you to recover from your work injuries fully.

Work Injury Symptoms

Symptoms of a workplace injury may include:

• Carpal tunnel and hand pain
• Disc injuries
• Sciatica (pain caused by the sciatic nerve in your lower back and legs)
• Joint pain
• Headaches
• Hearing loss
• Lower back pain
• Tingling or numbing sensations
• Allergic reactions or asthma
• Shoulder pain
• Seizures or tremors
• Ischemic heart disease
• Limited range of motion
• Blurry vision or vision loss
• Back pain, especially in the lower back
• Joints Pain, especially on the limbs
• Disorientation or confusion
• Fractures or broken bones
• Limited mobility

Work Injury Causes and Treatment

Work injuries vary depending on the work environment and nature of your job. Common causes include and are not limited to:

Slips, Trips, and Falls

These are the most common causes of workplace injuries and account for 25% of all work-related injuries, and may involve slips and trips without falling. Regardless of your work setting, you are likely at some point to trip, slip on surfaces, or fall while working because of the following;

• Icy, oily, or wet floor
• Poor lighting, unprotected holes, or clutter
• Falling to the same or lower level, including falling off a ladder, roofs, skyscraper construction areas, and other platforms.

Treatment options may include:

• The RICE method involves rest, ice, compression, and elevation.
• Splinting, a cast, or immobilization for bone fractures
• Antibiotics and tetanus shots for cuts and scrapes
• Medication for pain relief such as ibuprofen
• Acupuncture, massage therapy, or chiropractic adjustment for pain and stress relief.
• Surgery to realign bones from fractures

Overexertion

Overexertion injuries such as repetitive strain injuries (RSI) and muscle strain account for 34% of all job-related injuries. They can lead to an overall decline in productivity and long-term debilitating pain. Overexertion and repetitive injuries can be mild or severe and may involve the back, wrists, elbows, and hands. These injuries are commonly caused by:

• Repetitive work or microtasks without taking breaks result in strain or stress on some body parts.
• Throwing, pushing, carrying, or lifting
• Improper lifting techniques
• Manually lifting heavy objects
• Typing or moving a mouse without good ergonomics

Overexertion treatment options:

• Anti-inflammatory drugs for pain and swelling relief
• Corticosteroid injections for pain relief
• Heat or ice therapy
• Massage therapy
• Chiropractic adjustments
• Physical therapy
• Surgery (considered the last resort)

Poor ergonomics

Ergonomy is the study and science of understanding how particular jobs or job-related functions impact the human body. Some job-related functions like typing have a high-risk potential of causing muscular strain and wrist discomfort. Other ergonomic conditions occur due to sitting too long in incorrect positions and computers, resulting in eye strain, headaches, back problems, and neck tension.

Treatments options may include:

• Pain relievers for headaches
• Anti-inflammatory medications for reducing neck and shoulder pain inflammation and pain
• Ice therapy to minimize swelling
• Physical therapy to strengthen and improve flexibility
• Massage or chiropractic care for neck tension and back problems
• Stretching exercises
• Correcting poor posture
• Corticosteroid injections can reduce inflammation and relieve more severe pain
• Surgery to restore full range of motion

Struck or Hit by Equipment and Objects

These types of injuries are more serious when working in a high-risk area and cause severed limbs or fingers, bone fractures, head injuries, or body injuries. These injuries also happen in other work environments. Objects which fall from shelves and cupboards can lead to injuries. Other causes include:

• Striking, kicking, bumping, or being pushed against an object or equipment
• Crashes and collisions frequently involve moving machinery
• Walking into walls or machinery
• Cuts and lacerations from machinery and equipment
• Pinched, squeezed, compressed, or crashed in equipment between shifting or stationary objects and in a tape or wire
• Exposure to poorly guarded machinery
• Being crushed, struck or crushed in collapsing structure, material, or equipment
• Being struck by a moving object
• Tipping over heavy equipment
• Bumping into an object or machinery
• Excessive vibration leading to injury
• Moving object striking you

Treatment options include:

• First aid for minor injuries
• Pain relief medications
• Ice therapy
• Massage therapy
• Slings and splints to immobilize and speed up recovery
• Physical therapy
• Surgery to repair fractures, stop internal bleeding and remove foreign objects.

Exposure to a Harmful Environment or Substance

These are the leading cause of work-related illnesses and injuries that have resulted in workers’ extended absences from work. Exposure to harmful substances or environment includes:

• Inhaling toxic fumes
• Exposure to hazardous chemicals and other harmful substances
• Exposure to loud noise and radiation
• Exposure to electricity, fire, and explosions
• Exposure to extreme temperatures
• Exposure to oxygen deficiency
• Exposure to traumatic and stressful events

Treatment options include:

• First aid techniques for chemical exposure, such as flushing the eyes, cleaning the skin with clean water, and taking the patient to fresh air.
• Burns may be treated by wound dressings, medications, therapy, and surgery (severe burns).
• Oxygen therapy and inhaled steroids to open airways may be recommended for oxygen deficiency.
• Massage therapy or chiropractic care relieves stress and tension in the body after a stressful event.

Violence and Other Injuries by Persons or Animals

Compounding stress and tension can lead to confrontations, physical assault, harassment, or intimidation. Foresters, wildlife, and farm workers are also highly exposed to animal injuries.

Treatment options include:

• Stitches, tetanus shots, and medications for bites or scratches.
• Physical therapy for severe injuries to strengthen muscles and improve flexibility
• Chiropractic treatment for pain relief for muscles, ligaments, and muscles.
• Surgeries to repair broken bones or internal bleeding.

Contact Us

Axon Health Associates offers comprehensive evaluations and treatment plans for any work injury. From physical therapy to chiropractic care, massage therapy, and acupuncture to relieve pain and stress and for your overall health and wellbeing. Contact us today for more information, or schedule an appointment online.