Low Back Pain and Your Job

What should I do if I have low back pain at
work? 

Tell your supervisor right away, and see your doctor as soon
as possible. Treatment usually consists of cold or heat therapy, pain
medicine and exercise. Keep your employer and your doctor informed
about your condition and work status.

How long should the pain last? 

Low back pain is a common problem, but it usually is not
serious. You will probably start to feel better within two weeks. You
should feel much better after four weeks.

What activities can I do? 

Try to keep doing the things you normally do. You should not
stay in bed for more than two days. Stretching and mild aerobic
exercise (such as walking and swimming) can prevent stiffness and help
you get better faster. You should slowly increase how much exercise you
do. Exercise can help keep low back pain from coming back.

Will going back to work make the pain worse? 

Working can cause discomfort in your lower back, but this is
not harmful. If you can't do your regular job duties, ask your
supervisor if you can do different work until you get better.

Do I have to be pain-free to go back to
work? 

No. Low back pain usually gets better after you return to
work. Work can help you get better and is an important part of
treatment.

Can the pain come back after I return to
work? 

Yes. But this does not necessarily mean that work causes low
back pain. In many people with low back pain, the pain can come back
within one year whether or not they change their normal activities.

Source: American Family
Physician. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. Powered by
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