Back injuries and their debilitating effects

Back injuries happen for numerous reasons, including car crashes, falls at work and more. Their debilitating effects can cover a range of things, too.

This includes not only the potential physical and financial damage, but also mental and emotional struggles.

Mental impact of chronic pain

According to the International Association for the Study of Pain, back injuries are one of the biggest causes of chronic pain in the world. Chronic pain can come along with numerous negative impacts. For example, studies across the board show that sufferers of chronic pain have a higher rate of depression and anxiety.

It is also possible for chronic pain sufferers to develop issues with trauma or stressor-based disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder. This can add more emotional and mental stress to an already stressful situation.

Physical pain from back injuries

Physically, back injuries tend to take a long time to heal. Even the mildest of injuries can take a few days to a week or more to get through the inflammation stage.

A person should at least wait until this stage ends before returning to work, but many cannot afford to do so. This leads to a vicious cycle in which the sufferer re-injures their back and has to take even more time away from the job.

Financially, this can create a major issue because it attacks a person’s ability to maintain their paycheck. On top of that, medical treatment for their injury can create a financial drain, trapping them in a terrible loop of expenditures with no income in return.