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Thursday, January 3, 2013

Back Pain : Back Pain: Don't Suffer in Silence at Work

Back Pain : Back Pain: Don't Suffer in Silence at Work
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If you’re constantly crippled by back pain, you’re not alone. According to recent numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one in four adults over the age of 18 have had low back pain in the past three months, and many of them report being unable to finish certain everyday tasks. In people under 45, low back pain is the number-one cause of disability — often because of a work-related injury.

But despite these statistics, you might feel very alone with your pain at work, concerned about both being taken seriously and the potential backlash of asking for the modifications that might help you not only with back pain management but also with doing a better job. And those worries aren’t helping your back feel any better.

To understand how back pain symptoms affect workers, United Kingdom researchers asked 25 people being treated for back pain about their greatest job challenges and found five key concerns:

How to convey back pain to co-workers and bosses and be taken seriously
Worry about their ability to work in the future
How to cope with their condition on the job, especially flare-ups
Worry over using medication
Worry about the consequences of taking sick time
Coping With Back Pain On the Job

One of the reasons that having back pain symptoms is so problematic at work is that it’s invisible to others — if a co-worker can’t see your pain, he or she may doubt it’s there.

You might figure that it’s better to suffer in silence than draw attention to yourself, but you’re going to have to break that vow of silence to get both physical and emotional relief.

If there’s one step that could help you advocate better for yourself at work, it’s this: Get a Back Pain : diagnosis. See a doctor who can investigate the cause of your pain and give you advice about back pain management, suggests interventional pain specialist Charles Laurito, MD, a professor of anesthesiology at the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago. With a confirmed diagnosis, you’ll have an easier time asking for workplace modifications to be more productive and in less pain.

Back pain sufferer Rudy Boisseau is living proof. The 60-year-old civil service employee of Newport News, Va., has battled back pain for more than three decades. At first it was trial and error — he saw multiple doctors and took pain medications that knocked him out for a week at a time. Current medications for back pain management is more sophisticated and less likely to result in days off from work. Also, Boisseau now feels a lot less awkward about asking for modifications he needs to be comfortable.

“Now I know what I have to do to take care of my back,” he says. He always carries pain medication with him (though he rarely needs to take it), asks for hotel rooms with a large Jacuzzi tub and extra pillows when he’s traveling for work, and is open to trying new approaches that may help, such as weight loss and acupuncture.

If you’re just starting to understand your back pain and what you need to be more productive on the job, here are some tips for talking with your co-workers:

Emphasize that your goal is productivity. Explain that simple changes at work, such as being able to get up and stretch or walk around periodically, will keep you working longer and more comfortably. “Getting up to walk around for your back is like the new cigarette break,” says Dr. Laurito.
Back Pain : Get the right documentation. Qualifying for reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, such as changes in tasks, flexible scheduling, or access to assistive devices like mechanical tools for lifting and moving heavy items, may require a medical diagnosis that explains your pain — another reason to talk with your doctor. A medical diagnosis can also be used to get a handicapped license or tag for access to handicapped parking spots if you need it.
Ask about an ergonomics review. Many human resources departments will provide a free ergonomics review of your workstation at your request. With this information, you might be eligible for a chair with better lumbar support or other workplace modifications, even if you don’t have a diagnosis that explains your pain. If costs are a concern, the ergonomics expert might suggest low-cost alternatives, such as rolled towels placed at your lower back instead of a new chair.
Back Pain : Share your struggles. Your co-workers will be more supportive if they know the effort you’re making to get well, says Laurito. If it’s appropriate, share the steps you are taking to conquer pain, such as losing weight, being more active, and getting better sleep.
Keep a doctor’s note on hand. If you’re nervous about how your requests will be received or what people think of your keeping pain medication at work, ask your doctor for a letter outlining your treatment needs. You might never have to show it to anyone, but you may feel better having it in your pocket.
Back Pain : Be a team player. Yes, there may be days when back pain forces you to stay home, but on your good days, show your colleagues that you’re producing at or above the expected level at work.
Speak up for yourself at work, and soon, like Boisseau, you’ll be in a better position to manage your pain and have the respect and understanding of your co-workers.

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