Workers Compensation Lumbar Disc Herniation Rehabilitation after surgery is more complex. Some patients leave the hospital shortly after surgery. However, some surgeries require patients to stay in the hospital for a few days. Patients who stay in the hospital may visit with a physical therapist in the hospital room soon after surgery. The treatment sessions help patients learn to move and do routine activities without putting extra strain on the back.
During recovery from surgery, patients should follow their surgeon’s instructions about rest and possibly wearing a back brace or support belt. They should be cautious about overdoing activities in the first few weeks after surgery.
Many surgical patients need physical therapy outside of the hospital. They see a therapist for one to three months, depending on the type of surgery. At first, therapists may use treatments such as heat or ice, electrical stimulation, massage, and ultrasound to help calm pain and muscle spasm. They provide reassurance to help patients deal with fear and apprehension about pain. Then they teach patients how to move safely with the least strain on the healing back. Exercises are used to improve flexibility, strength, and endurance. When your treatment is well under way, regular visits to the therapist’s office will end. The therapist will continue to be a resource for you. But you will be in charge of doing your exercises as part of an ongoing home program.
Some injured workers benefit from a work hardening program. Work hardening is typically more intensive and strenuous than physical therapy and is often specifically tailored to get a worker back to her or his specific job.
After Workers Compensation Lumbar Disc Herniation Rehabilitation is complete, the surgeon will set any permanent work restrictions. Very often the doctor requires a functional capacity evaluation or FCE before determining the restrictions. The FCE is a physical test involving lifting, exertion and stamina administered by an OT or PT often while injured worker’s heart rate is monitored to track effort.
After the permanent work restrictions are set the question is can the worker return to his or her job. If not, there are workers’ compensation benefits including loss of earning capacity and/or vocational retraining available to help put the injured worker’s life back together. For the best workers compensation results McCormick Law attorneys in Milwaukee, Wisconsin have expert consultants in medicine and vocational disciplines to help prove the injured worker’s case. Every case is different and there are many factors that must come together to establish a winning workers compensation claim. Legal experience and a track record of success goes a long toward successful workers compensation results. There is no charge or cost to protect your future by calling now.
