Resolving the myth that doing nothing is better

Work Injuries, Full Recovery and Chiropractic Care
Resolving the myth that doing nothing is better

by
William J. Owens DC, DAAMLP
Mark Studin DC, FASBE (C), DAAPM, DAAMLP

Thousands of people have realized the benefits of receiving Chiropractic after a traumatic injury at work.  Many of the things we are employed to do often cause injuries to the neck or the lower back.  This can include repetitive lifting, bending and twisting and sitting at a desk or computer for a prolonged period of time.  It is incorrect to assume that because your are lifting car engines or leaning over a desk for 8 continuous hours that you can’t hurt your back. There is a term called “Creep” that has a profound effect on the health of your spine and joints. Creep; “to change in shape as the result of constant stress,[1] <http://uschirodirectory.com/index.php/neck-problems/item/241-work-injuries-full-recovery-and-chiropractic-care-resolving-the-myth-that-doing-nothing-is-better#_ftn1> ” and is similar to pulling slowly and steadily on a bar of Salt Water Taffy. If you do this for a while, the taffy stretches, but is reluctant to return to its original position. That is why postural trauma such as sedentary work or driving for long distances can have negative consequences over time. 
 
A Doctor of Chiropractic is trained to evaluate this type of condition as well as injuries to the spine caused quickly with a single incident.  Both can have negative profound effects your body and equally cause pain and loss of function.
 
Proper treatment for working related injuries is critical to returning to work in a timely manner and preventing recurrence.  Although pain is an important part of the evaluation process of working related injuries, functional status (reflects an individual's ability to carry out activities[2] <http://uschirodirectory.com/index.php/neck-problems/item/241-work-injuries-full-recovery-and-chiropractic-care-resolving-the-myth-that-doing-nothing-is-better#_ftn2> ) is equally important; you need to be out of pain and be able to do what you want and needs to get done with no limitations. Your chiropractor wants you to get you back to your normal routine as quickly as possible and then work with you to stay that way.
 
In a recent research paper published in 2009, the authors stated “Over the last 15 years, the percentage of pre-retirement disabled US workers has increased from 5% to 9% such that more people receive disability income than are unemployed.”[3] <http://uschirodirectory.com/index.php/neck-problems/item/241-work-injuries-full-recovery-and-chiropractic-care-resolving-the-myth-that-doing-nothing-is-better#_ftn3> This has tremendous implications on the workforce, productivity of businesses and your ability to earn a living.   
 
The participants of the study were listed by the authors as records containing 249 patients between the ages 18 and 65 years (mean = 38.3 years, SD = 10.7 years, 84 women) with dates of service between January 1, 2003, and December 31, 2006, were retrospectively analyzed (they used 100 records.)”1
 
Based on date of injury to first date of chiropractic care, the cases were subdivided into acute (0-21days), subacute (22-90 days), and chronic (>90 days) injured workers.
 
One powerful conclusion of the research was that workers in the Acute or Subacute had better treatment scores than patients with a chronic condition.  This indicates that the sooner the patient received chiropractic treatment, the better the outcomes.  Access and treatment is the key to long term success in the workforce. 
 
MYTH: Problems resolve themselves
 
The idea that lower back pain has a “natural history” and will resolve on its own has been recently challenged in the scientific literature.  Several papers have reported actual statistics and the authors “Hestbaek et al,Carey et al, and later Nicholson and Johnsonwho describe how acute low back pain becomes chronic or recurrent more frequently than previously suspected. Jayson expanded on these concerns, noting at 3 months that the natural history prognosis (allowing it to get better on its own) for patients having experienced an acute episode of low back pain was as follows: 27% were completely better, 28% improved, 30% had no change, and 14% were actually worse”.  The idea that pain in your lower back gets better is actually a myth, the results show that 75% actually had pain that continued and 44% had no change or got worse.  Thinking it will go away is just not a good idea.[4] <http://uschirodirectory.com/index.php/neck-problems/item/241-work-injuries-full-recovery-and-chiropractic-care-resolving-the-myth-that-doing-nothing-is-better#_ftn4>  
 
The conclusion of this study was “Patients recorded improvement in functional scores and subjective response involving work-related spinal injuries. Improvement was noted in all 3 time-based phases of patient status (acute, subacute, and chronic.”) [5] <http://uschirodirectory.com/index.php/neck-problems/item/241-work-injuries-full-recovery-and-chiropractic-care-resolving-the-myth-that-doing-nothing-is-better#_ftn5>  
 
When you have a working related injury, this paper shows that although care is most effective when you see a Doctor of Chiropractic as soon after the injury as possible. Those patient seeking care 90 days or greater after the injury will still receive tremendous benefit from chiropractic care, however the sooner, according to the study, you stand a better chance of recovery. Being care for by a Doctor of Chiropractic is an essential and effective way to decrease pain and increase function. 
 
Fully recovery from a work related injury and ensuring that you will be able to continue your job, with no limitations everyone’s goal. The doctor of chiropractic works with both you the patient and your employer to ensure that you do recover and be able to return to work, with as little disability time and functioning in your full capacity with no limitations.