4 Common Workplace Injuries Addressed With Chiropractic Care in Portland

If you don't work one of the world's most dangerous jobs, you might assume a work injury won't happen to you. The truth is that a lot of our lives are spent at work. If we're going to be injured, the workplace is a likely place for it to happen.

Whether you work in a warehouse or an office, work injuries are a common problem Portland chiropractors help people with every day.

1. A Slip and a Fall

Employers have a legal responsibility to make the workplace as safe as possible. This means watching out for slippery floors and removing trip hazards. Even in a safe work environment, tripping happens. It's important to be seen by a healthcare provider as soon as possible to have yourself checked over from a fall. Chiropractors often see misalignments and slipped discs as common work injuries from a fall.

2. Car Accidents

Whenever you are in a car accident, you should have your health checked out right away. If you drive daily for your job, you may be more aware of the risk. Sometimes driving on the job happens infrequently, and employees want to brush the incident off if they "feel fine". After a car accident, you may feel okay for several days before your symptoms set in. It's a lot better for your health (and for your work claim) if you get checked out immediately after the accident.

One of the more common car accident injuries chiropractors see is whiplash. Symptoms of whiplash (headaches, vertigo, fatigue, a stiff or sore neck, shoulders, or upper back) may not set in for several days. Whiplash can take months to recover from. Waiting out your symptoms is never a good idea.

3. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Do you work a lot with your hands? Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a common issue for people who work in factories and offices. The median nerve travels from your elbow through the carpal tunnel in your wrist. When the nerve is compressed, it can cause pain, tingling, and weakness in the hands. Not only is this uncomfortable, but it also makes it difficult to do your job. This kind of repetitive stress injury from work can be addressed in a variety of ways. One way people care for CTS is with chiropractic care. Your chiropractor can perform gentle and natural manipulations of the elbow and wrist joints to alleviate pain and reduce your need for medications. Your chiropractor will also discuss options for the care you can build into your health plan.

4. Back Injuries, Herniated Discs

Back injuries happen at every job. This can happen suddenly from something falling on you or other time from repetitive actions for your work. It may be that your back is always sore or it may start to hurt enough that it's difficult to move. One of the common culprits for back injuries at work is a herniated disc. Your spinal column is made up of vertebrae (small bones that interlock) and discs that work to cushion vertebrae. There are different kinds of disc injuries. One type is when your disc has slipped out of place. Another is when your disc has ruptured or is bulging. The discs have soft gel-like centers to better cushion the vertebrae. When injured, this can become a painful problem. Your chiropractor can work with you as part of a plan for managing the pain of your disc injury without medication.

Talk to Your Portland Chiropractor As Soon As You Can

Once you notice you've been injured at work, it's best to report the injury to your employer as soon as possible and seek out professional help. Tell your healthcare providers that this is a work injury so they can help you get the documentation you need if you decide to file a claim with your employer to help pay for your healthcare.

The sooner you work on your injury, the better for your work claim and the better for your health. Addressing injuries sooner can lead to less damage to heal. Talk to your Portland chiropractor at North Portland Wellness Group as soon as possible so you can seek out the care you deserve.