Work-related neck injuries are common across a variety of industries, including manufacturing, construction and office work. Neck injuries can occur due to accidents, poor ergonomics and heavy lifting.
While neck pain affects about 27 out of 1,000 people, if your neck pain stems from work-related injuries, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation.
Neck pain
Sometimes, neck pain occurs due to repetitive movements or chronic strains or sprains. Spraining or straining your neck often happens when you have poor posture or perform a sudden action. Likewise, heavy lifting without the proper technique can result in a neck sprain. If you fear you have a sprain, you may experience pain, stiffness and limited range of motion.
Cervical fractures
You may fracture your neck or collarbone in slip and falls, motor vehicle accidents, and other serious incidents. Cervical fractures come with intense pain, neurological symptoms and difficulty moving your neck. Any suspected fracture requires immediate medical attention and may need a brace for six to eight weeks following the incident.
Whiplash
When you think of whiplash, you may think about car accidents. While whiplash is common in motor vehicle accidents, any sudden back-and-forth motion of the head and neck can cause soft tissue damage and pain. For example, incidents involving heavy machinery and slips and falls can cause whiplash.
If a work-related accident causes a neck injury, you must seek medical attention immediately. Even minor injuries can result in complications when left untreated. Likewise, if you plan to file a workers’ compensation claim, you need to start your healthcare journey directly following the accident. If you are dealing with a work injury, contact YOUR Workers’ Compensation Specialist for a free, no-obligation consultation. Call 610-892-9300 or reach us online today.