No matter what industry you work in, you are probably under a lot of pressure to be productive and dedicated. Thus, if you suffer a minor injury on the job, it could be tempting to grit your teeth and continue to work, ignoring the pain in the hopes that it will get better. But pain exists for a reason, and sometimes it’s your body’s way of telling you that you need to rest and take measures to treat your injury before it becomes much worse. Sometimes it’s best not to work through the pain.
Injuries can become worse without treatment
Some of the most common work-related injuries are repetitive strain injuries. These types of injuries often arise when you have to make the same movement over and over, all day long, and are most common in factory workers, construction workers and other physically taxing jobs.
Even if you work in an office, you could still face problems – such as carpal tunnel syndrome in your wrists from typing or back injuries from sitting. The pain builds, and in some cases the damage could become permanent if left untreated.
Some discomfort is normal when performing physical tasks, especially as your age progresses. But just like when exercising or playing sports, ignoring extreme pain can be dangerous.
What you should do instead
If your injury arose out of your typical work duties, you may qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. Your employer’s workers’ compensation policy exists for exactly this reason, and you should not hesitate to use it if you need it.
Workers’ compensation is a system that allows you to receive periodic payments to cover the cost of your medical bills and other expenses while you recover from a work-related injury. As long as your work duties were the principal cause of your injury, you can apply for these benefits.
You need not fear negative consequences for availing yourself of workers’ compensation. It is illegal for your employer to take retaliatory action against you for applying for benefits or taking leave, such as firing you, demoting you or docking your pay.
Pain exists to keep us from causing greater harm to our body. Instead of ignoring it and working through it, it could be time to look into using workers’ compensation to treat your condition before it gets worse.