After an injury, many people feel immense pressure to get back to work fast. Some worry about paying bills while others don’t want to fall behind on their projects or disappoint their employer. While these concerns are valid, going back to work before you’ve fully healed can cause some long-term problems.
Whether you’ve been injured in a car accident, a motorcycle crash, a slip-and-fall accident, or any other incident, recovery takes time. If you push yourself too hard you can halt your body’s healing process and subject yourself to further injury, not to mention harm your ability to recover compensation. Even if you think you can manage, before you head back to work, consider the following risks.
1. It can affect your compensation
If someone else caused your injury, returning to work too early might complicate your personal injury claim. Insurance companies always look for evidence that an injured party has fully recovered so they can pay out the bare minimum. When you return to work quickly, the insurance company will likely argue that your injuries weren’t as serious as you claimed or they’ll devalue your claim to reduce your payout.
If you’re medically cleared, it makes sense to return to work. However, don’t rush back out of fear if you aren’t actually healed. If you aren’t sure how medical clearance works, your lawyer can help you understand the process so your decisions will support you long-term.
2. You could slow down your recovery
Delayed recovery is the biggest risk of going back to work too soon. Healing takes time, rest, and the absence of stress. If you go back to work before your body is ready, you’ll put unnecessary strain on the point of your injury. Even if your job seems easy, you’re still at risk. Sitting at a desk all day can make neck and back injuries worse, and standing for hours on end can worsen injuries to the hips and knees.
There will be a time when you’ll notice temporary improvement. Healing works in stages where you take several steps forward that can feel like you’re fully recovered. However, healing also tends to move you backwards before moving you forward again. It’s a process that happens in cycles. Don’t let a decrease in pain convince you that you’re fully healed. Check in with your doctor before you create setbacks that could have been avoided.
3. Fatigue can hurt your performance
Serious injuries often come with major fatigue that drains your daily energy and disrupts your sleep. It’s hard to concentrate when you’re exhausted, and that means your performance is likely to suffer. In any profession, fatigue puts you at risk for mistakes. If you happen to work in an industry where physical safety requires your full attention, you’ll be at risk for further injury.
Give yourself time to heal physically and mentally so you can return to work at full capacity instead of struggling through each day.
4. You might underestimate your long-term limitations
Not every injury will show you the full impact right away. Some people go back to work thinking they’re ready and a few weeks later they find out their condition is more serious. Back injuries, traumatic brain injuries, joint damage, and nerve injuries can produce symptoms that get worse with time. With these injuries, pain levels can fluctuate and you won’t notice your limitations until you try to get back into your normal routine.
Waiting until your doctor says you’ve reached Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) is the best way to avoid extending your recovery unnecessarily.
5. You might re-injure yourself
If you go back to work before you’ve regained your strength or mobility, you’re at risk for being hurt again. For example, if you’re recovering from a shoulder injury, you might not be able to lift certain objects. If you’re recovering from a leg injury, you might not have great balance. Trying to perform your regular duties could result in another injury.
A second injury could make your original injury worse and create even more limitations and an extended recovery timeline. Always listen to your doctor’s recommendations regarding work restrictions to protect yourself.
Prioritize your long-term recovery
If your injury was caused by someone else’s negligence, it’s critical to contact a personal injury lawyer right away to evaluate your case and help you pursue compensation. Your attorney will tell you how to navigate returning to work while preserving your rights.
If you go back too soon, you could create setbacks that either postpone your healing or lead to another injury. Wanting to get back to work after an injury makes sense, but your recovery is more important.
—
This post brought to you by Larry Alton.
Photo: iStock
