Back Injury at Work

How back injuries happen on the job

Most work-related back injuries come from lifting, carrying, twisting while loaded, slips and falls, or long hours in one position. Some start with a single incident. Others build up over weeks of the same motion until one ordinary shift tips them into pain. Both kinds are evaluated the same way: what you were doing, when it started and what you feel now.

Symptoms worth getting examined

• Low back pain that spreads into a hip, buttock or leg
• Numbness, tingling or weakness in a leg or foot
• Pain that gets worse with sitting, bending or lifting
• Stiffness that keeps you from standing straight
• Pain that has lasted more than a few days or keeps coming back

What the first visit covers

• A history of the incident and your job duties
• A physical examination of the spine, hips and legs
• A treatment plan written for your injury and the work you do
• A work status note describing what you can and cannot do while you recover
• Referrals for imaging or pain management when the provider finds they are needed

Treatment for a work-related back injury

Treatment is hands-on and progressive. The first goal is to reduce pain and protect the injured area. The next is to restore movement. The last is to rebuild the strength and tolerance your job requires, so the injury does not come back the week you return to full duty. Chiropractic care and physical therapy are the core of the plan; imaging and pain management are added when the provider finds they are needed.

Your work status note

The provider writes a work status note at the visit. It lists restrictions such as lifting limits, no repetitive bending or no prolonged standing, and it is updated as you improve so your employer always has current restrictions in writing.