Any time you get injured on the job, your worker’s compensation attorney(s) is going to advise you to take your physical therapy treatments very seriously. A great majority of injuries suffered on the job require some level of physical therapy. It is almost routine that after your first doctor visit, you will be referred to a physical therapy clinic for the appropriate level of assessment and subsequent rehabilitation. Physical therapy is not just for massage and muscle relief.
Physical therapists are an integral part of the healthcare team, and their expertise is in the science of movement. Their job is to help you achieve your highest level of physical function, regardless of your condition. This means that even patients with paralysis and loss of function will be expected to work with physical therapists. It is important to remember that if you are referred to a physical therapist, your appointments are just as important as any medication or doctor visit you‘re scheduled for. And failure to cooperate or participate in physical therapy could jeopardize your worker’s comp claim.
It is highly probable that the physical therapist will see you much more often than your supervising physician. You may only have doctor appointments once or twice a month. Your physical therapist, however, may work with you 3 or 4 times per week, over a number of weeks, or even years, depending on the extent of your injury. Your therapist is a first-hand professional who can gauge your pain level before, during, and after completion of the therapy. Your physical therapist will maintain accurate and detailed records on your pain complaints, your ability to perform certain exercises, and your overall progress during the program.
Your physical therapist is also a valuable source of information for your physician. If your doctor has no idea what you are doing in therapy, he or she cannot properly assess if you need more therapy, or if you have reached your optimal ability. Your complaints and feedback are just as important in physical therapy notes as they are in medical notes from the physician.