Are unproven back injury treatments draining workers’ comp funds in Georgia?

Back pain is a serious issue for many workers in Georgia.  Nationwide, lumbar injuries result in approximately $149 million in lost work days per year.  As a result, businesses are estimated to lose $28 billion each year from lost productivity.

Sure, businesses lose out, but think of all the workers suffering from serious back injuries.  Workers who sustain a back injury on the job and are unable to work may need to file for workers’ compensation.  In fact, 25 to 35% of workers’ compensation costs are thought to be related to back pain.

Why are the costs for workers’ back injuries so high?  A recent study reveals that health professionals may be acting too aggressively to treat their patients’ lumbar injuries.  The study revealed that while spine-related expenses shot up 65 percent from 1997 to 2005, there is no evidence that the outcome for those suffering from back pain is any better.

So, not only is more being spent to treat back injuries but it isn’t doing patients any good.  What does this mean for workers?  Think about it – if workers’ comp insurance has to pay for unnecessary treatment, it just means there is less money to go around.  You could also suffer through painful, unnecessary procedures that could make it more difficult to return to work.  Make sure you get the facts before you submit to any unnecessary or unproven treatments for your work related back injury.