Since 1970, workplace deaths have been reduced by more than 60%, and occupational injuries have declined by 40%.
Although workplaces are safer than ever before, many jobs still carry a significant risk of injury and even death. After experiencing an injury on the job, many workers become temporarily disabled and unfit to work.
This type of sidelining from the job can cause a number of hardships. Many people find making ends meet difficult, especially if they have families, and mental health is frequently also negatively impacted. Here is a quick guide on strategies that can help you recover faster and get your life back on track.
Mental Health
Understanding why many injured workers slip into depression is easy. Unable to work, with nothing to occupy their time, workers often fall into the trap of repetitive thinking, obsessive thoughts, deflated morale, and lower self-confidence. Staying connected with friends and family is crucial for maintaining your mental health throughout the recovery process. In addition, many professional therapists specialize in treating injured workers who are experiencing a difficult recovery.
Stay on Top of Physical Therapy
For the fastest, most complete recovery possible, consult with a physical therapist who is trained to help patients with your particular injury. A good physical therapy regimen is medically proven to improve results by restoring your function closer to what it was prior to the accident than without the therapy.
Collect What You Are Entitled To
Workplace injury, in addition to the physical toll, can exact a hefty financial burden on victims. The piling medical bills combined with the loss of income put many people in precarious financial situations. However, there are ways to protect yourself and get what you are owed.
The Lawyers at Prediletto, Halpin, Scharnikow & Nelson, P.S. have prepared the following questions you need to answer:
- Are you receiving all the benefits to which you are entitled?
- If you are unable to work, are your time-loss benefits being paid on time, every time?
- If your doctor is recommending diagnostic tests or referring you to other specialists, are these requests being authorized?
- Are you allowed to choose your own doctor, or must you be seen by a doctor chosen by the Department of Labor and Industries or the self-insured employer?
- Must you return to work before your doctor certifies that you are ready?
- Are you entitled to time loss benefits if you are only released to light-duty work and your employer has no light duty available?
- Are you entitled to vocational retraining if you cannot return to the job of injury?
- When your doctor has indicated that treatment is concluded, are you entitled to some “settlement” for permanent disability?
Stay Busy
Boredom won’t help you. While you might not have your usual mobility for a while, you don’t have to just sit around. Keeping yourself occupied in whatever way possible will help speed your recovery and possibly prevent you from falling into depression. Beginning a new hobby, starting a new sport, or simply keeping your mind active by reading can make a huge difference during your temporary disability.
Follow these four tips for a more successful recovery. Get all the help that you can, legal, clinical, and otherwise, and stay connected to friends and family. Enlisting help and support from as many sources as possible is important.
About the Author:
Anita is a freelance writer from Denver, CO. She studied at Colorado State University, and now writes articles about health, business, family and finance. A mother of two, she enjoys traveling with her family whenever she isn’t writing. You can follow her on Twitter @anitaginsburg.
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