Workers’ Comp Chiropractor in Springfield, Illinois

The possibility of getting hurt at work is a known fear for many employees across countless professions in the working world. It’s completely understandable, too, as this is a person’s livelihood – how they make their living, pay their bills, and support their families. For some they are the only one in the family who works, so the pressure to stay healthy and avoid accidents and traumas is extremely high. Additionally, if they are in a labor-intensive field involving risky job activities, it further adds to the stress of avoiding these situations.

Unfortunately, though, work injuries happen all the time. If you are unfortunate enough to experience a work-related injury, you must address the situation in the right way to ensure you are protected. There are numerous steps that you have to take if you receive benefits from a workers’ compensation claim. You have to report the incident as soon as possible to your employer, the employer’s insurance company, and any other relevant agencies to make them aware of it. Time is of the essence when it comes to reporting a work incident, so you mustn’t delay!

Many different injuries are possible in the workplace. There can be severe and acute injuries, such as a broken arm, that require emergency-level care. However, most cases are injuries such as back pain or neck pain from relatively uneventful circumstances. Despite this, just because you don’t go to the ER doesn’t mean you didn’t suffer an injury in the workplace. It may be your first accident, but insurance companies do this every day. They want to find reasons not to pay your bills. It is crucial that you work with medical providers, attorneys, etc., who understand how worker compensation works, so you are not at a disadvantage in this difficult-to-navigate process.

Here at the Springfield Wellness Center, we have helped many people work through this process, get the care they need, and get back to working at full capacity and function at their workplace. Our facility is equipped to help you navigate your injuries and heal correctly, so you feel better now and feel better going forward into the future. It doesn’t get any more rewarding than that.

How We Treat Workers’ Comp Injuries in Springfield, IL

Comprehensive Consultation and Exam

When you come to the Springfield Wellness Center as a patient in a worker’s comp case, the first visit will consist of two essential components: the consultation and the examination. Your doctor will sit down with you in the consultation and listen to your story and how this injury happened. Your doctor wants to be as thorough as possible for documentation purposes, so any details you can provide are critically important. They want to understand you and the impact this injury has on your life. This information will help your doctor know what to be looking for when they go through your examination with you.

In the examination, your doctor will take you through a multitude of different tests. Tests such as range of motion, orthopedic, neurologic, movement, and chiropractic-specific exams are performed to ensure the doctor has the correct clinical information to make accurate recommendations for your care. A thorough consultation and exam will allow for a faster, more efficient healing process that will get you back to full function in no time.

Specific Chiropractic Care in Springfield, IL

On many occasions, people who come to our office after a workplace accident tend to be experiencing symptoms such as lower back pain, neck pain, headaches, or some other type of musculoskeletal issue. Chiropractic care is highly effective at treating these types of conditions and correcting their underlying cause. When trauma happens to the body, it can cause a condition called subluxation, in which a part of the spine becomes out of alignment. Subluxation creates pressure on the nervous system and can cause symptoms such as pain in that area. 

 Chiropractors are the only health care providers who are experts at identifying and correcting subluxation in the spine. Through chiropractic care, chiropractors can remove subluxation that is causing interference in the nervous system and start the healing process. This not only helps decrease the pain of your injury but also helps correct its cause. This is how problems get fixed, not just patched over.

Massage Therapy and Soft Tissue Work

Frequently in workplace injuries, there is damage to the muscles or other soft tissues in the affected area. It is imperative that these tissues are not neglected, as they can turn into chronic problems that take much longer to heal the longer they are ignored. At the Springfield Wellness Center, we address these problems in two different ways. One of our most effective approaches to this is through massage therapy. Our licensed massage therapists are experts at reducing tension and muscle adhesions that cause pain, stiffness, and limited mobility. By breaking through these stubborn knots, our therapists are able to help you get your mobility back and allow you more freedom of movement.

 If massage therapy isn’t for you, our chiropractors are also well-versed in various soft tissue techniques to help address the same issues. Using techniques such as Active Release Technique and Graston Technique, our doctors are able to break through muscle adhesions and provide the blueprint for appropriate tissue regrowth that will allow for optimal mobility and range of motion. When coupled with chiropractic care, soft tissue work can dramatically reduce pain and improve overall functionality, which will get you back in the workplace quickly.

Therapeutic Exercise 

The human body heals through movement. This simple fact has proven to be true time and time again throughout history. Our joints are made to move, and our nervous system thrives off movement. For these reasons, exercise plays a significant role in the care we provide at the Springfield Wellness Center. Our corrective exercise programs help people improve posture, strengthen their spine, and improve their overall mobility. This helps to accelerate the healing process regardless of where injuries originate. When combined with chiropractic and massage therapy, therapeutic exercise helps enhance the results that our patients get from their care. And when it comes to healing from a workplace injury, time is of the essence.

Deep Tissue Laser

At the Springfield Wellness Center, we leverage technology wherever possible to enhance the outcomes for our patients. One such type of technology is called Deep Tissue Laser. It is tremendously effective at helping heal several musculoskeletal injuries, from joint problems to muscle strains and everything in between. 

Deep Tissue Laser utilizes near-infrared light, which penetrates deep into the tissue. This light energy enhances the activity of mitochondria in each of your cells, which are responsible for energy production. This energy is utilized for tissue healing and combating inflammation in the body. The result is faster than normal healing to the injury site, getting you back to the workplace quicker.  Treatment is quick and painless, usually taking only around 5 minutes per session. Utilizing Deep Tissue Laser with our other treatment modalities helps us take our care to the next level.

Common Work-Related Injuries

Slips and Falls

The number one reason a worker’s compensation claim is submitted is an injury from a slip and fall incident in the workplace. There are many different types of work environments. Some people have to navigate icy, oily, or wet floors regularly. Others have to work around unmarked holes, workspace clutter, and poor lighting. Some have to perform their work on ladders, roofs, and construction areas where a fall could cause serious injury. Regardless of the circumstances, it is possible to experience subluxation due to a slip and fall injury. Chiropractors are specifically trained to help correct this condition. If you experience this type of injury, a chiropractor should be one of the first places you call, provided there is no emergency.

Overexertion

Overexertion in the workplace is another widespread reason for a worker’s compensation case. Many different jobs require manual work that is repetitive in nature, and over time this tends to cause injuries such as muscle strains, postural problems, and chronic pain. It doesn’t have to be grueling physical labor, either. These issues are experienced lifting heavy equipment as well as sitting at a computer all day. These injuries tend to happen gradually over time, so they naturally take longer to heal because of their chronic nature. With the right combination of treatments, people can feel significantly better and experience vastly improved functionality in the workplace and everyday life.

Crashes and Collisions

Another frequent cause of workers’ comp cases is crashes and collisions that occur while on the job. Let’s face it, a lot of people have to drive or operate heavy equipment or machinery while working. If someone is in an auto accident while working or operating equipment that malfunctions causing a collision with something else, it is very easy for injury to occur. Often these people will experience things like whiplash and the associated neck pain and headaches. Chiropractic care, exercise, and soft tissue work can effectively improve posture, alignment, and mobility in these areas to help get patients on the road to healing.

Lower Back Pain From a Workplace Injury

Lower back pain is the #1 cause of disability in the U.S. and is a widespread complaint amongst workers pursuing a workers’ comp claim. Lower back pain is caused by subluxation in the spine, muscle strain, disc injury, and a whole host of other causes. If lower back problems are not adequately addressed, they can become chronic, stubborn injuries that may permanently affect how the individual does their work. In some cases, it may keep them from doing that work ever again. Again, this is why it is so important to address problems like this as swiftly as possible because the longer you wait to address them, the harder it is to address them.

Neck Pain from a Workplace Injury

Like lower back pain, neck pain is another common injury cited in workers’ comp claims. Neck pain can result from an acute injury like whiplash, a fall, or even everyday desk work at a computer. The joints in the neck can degenerate more rapidly if your posture is not correct. Poor posture can lead to longer-term issues such as disc degeneration, radicular pain, and headaches. Chiropractic and exercise are the two best ways to improve your posture and head position to help minimize neck pain. The sooner you start actively caring for this type of problem, the better your prognosis towards a full recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I go to a chiropractor after a workplace incident?

Yes, if you experience an injury in the workplace, a chiropractor is a great option. However, if there is an emergency, it is best to go through the ER first to make sure there are no life-threatening injuries. Once it is established that there are not, a chiropractor is arguably the best place to work on actively healing from your injuries through chiropractic care, exercise, massage, etc.

Does insurance pay for a chiropractor after a workplace incident?

If the employer’s insurance company approves the case, they will pay for care at a chiropractic office. This is subject to insurance limitations and exclusions, but our team can help you navigate this landscape in addition to your attorney or representative.

What are my rights to care after a workplace incident?

You always have the right to seek out and receive care, and doing so after a workplace incident is no different. You just want to make sure you take the necessary steps to ensure that your employer and their insurance company will cover the costs of your care for the injury you sustained while performing work for them.

Do I have to pay anything out of pocket after a workplace incident?

Typically not, but there can be instances where certain types of service are not covered by an insurance company that may be your responsibility. It really depends on the particular insurance company and the chiropractic office you are receiving care from as to whether there will be any financial responsibility for the patient.

How long should I go to a chiropractor after a workplace incident?

It is recommended that you follow the treatment plan given to you by your chiropractor based on your exam and history findings. When you reach “maximum medical improvement” status, it is appropriate for your chiropractor to discharge you from care in your workers’ comp case.