For many, chronic back pain is debilitating. When back pain interferes with your work, you may need to be reassigned to another less physical position or find ways to cope with your condition. Vocational rehab for back pain involves education to teach you how to minimize the pain, medical services to manage the pain as well as open communication with your employer about modifications to your work environment. Vocational rehabilitation usually takes place following treatment, before you return to the job.
Understanding
Managing back pain at work often involves learning about the primary causes of your discomfort. Vocational rehabilitation includes assessing your workplace and the triggers that might set your back pain off to find ways to prevent additional flare-ups. According to MayoClinic.com, understanding the source of your back pain is the first step to preventing it.
Common Causes
Once identified, you can take steps to mitigate the most common causes of back pain at work and learn how to deal with them through your vocational rehabilitation. Repetitive motion is one of the most common causes of back pain that can be prevented by stretching before you work and changing the way you lift or perform your daily duties so you don't place your back in awkward positions. Proper posture alleviates strain and fatigue. Define the level of force you're comfortable lifting and make arrangements when possible to reduce the amount of weight you lift. Finally, avoid stress that often leads to tight muscles and tension in your back.
Quick Action
You should report back pain or seek medical advice as soon as it happens. The longer you wait to get treatment, the longer your rehabilitation will take. Additionally, you may have an injury that could worsen if you keep working at the same pace in the same work environment. The quicker you act, the quicker you can begin vocational rehabilitation and get back to work. According to the British Occupational Health Research Foundation, 50 percent of patients who undergo back treatment return to work after being off for six months, while only 5 percent successfully go through vocational rehab after being out of work for a year.
Changes
After identifying your problems, adjusting your work habits and getting medical treatment, you should make changes to your equipment at work as part of your vocational rehab requirements. Talk to your employer about providing you with an ergonomic chair with sufficient lumbar support to prevent backaches when working at a desk. Get an adjustable keyboard so that you can rest your arms on your chair and easily reach your keyboard, preventing back strain when working at a computer all day. Wear safety belts to help you maintain proper posture and lifting techniques. Invest in work shoes that provide sufficient support if you're on your feet all day.
