Jul 23, 2023 | Truck Driving, Work Injuries
Driving a truck means long periods of sitting and remaining cooped up in the truck’s cabin. Over time, all of that driving could lead to injury and stress buildup. That’s why it’s helpful to know some trucker exercise techniques. These techniques can help you remain limber and healthy despite all that long driving…
Trucker Exercise: Stretches And More
Back stretches
The first kind of trucker exercise to consider are back stretches. A good stretch is very useful for decompressing your spine and loosening your muscles. Plus, they’ll also help reduce back pains and make those long drives a lot more tolerable.
For example, a good stretch to try is the backbend. All you have to do is place your hands behind your back, and lean as far back as you can. Repeat this 5-10 times, and then do the same in the front. Also, when doing these front bends, try to put your hands on your hips, as this will help stretch your legs too.
Walking/running
The next trucker exercise technique to try is walking or running. Much like stretches, walking or running can be done anywhere with practically no equipment. For instance, you could do some walking around a rest stop before you get back in your truck. In fact, truckers can actually use their trucks to their advantage.
It’s not a bad idea to walk or run around your truck when you have the chance. 32 laps around a truck with a trailer is equal to about one mile. Plus, 30 minutes of walking or running tends to burn about 200-300 calories. Therefore, this is a great way to get some exercise while also stretching those muscles.
Bodyweight exercises
Another good form of trucker exercise to consider are bodyweight exercises. These exercises include things like push-ups, sit-ups, lunges, etc. These exercises are great because much like the previous examples, you need little to no extra equipment for them. Although, it might be a good idea to bring a workout mat so you don’t have to directly touch the ground!
It’s a good idea to first start with a handful of exercises and then do a few repeating reps of each whenever you have the chance. Then, switch it up and add some new ones in the mix. Not only will that keep some variety, it’ll also let you add in other exercises into the mix as well!
Jul 22, 2023 | Employment, Work Injuries
Recovering from an injury can be a lengthy process. It’s not uncommon to face feelings of stress and anxiety during difficult times. However, there are ways to stay positive and keep up healthy recovery behavior as you move past a work injury. Here are a few tips for keeping your spirits up while your recover…
Healthy Recovery Behavior: Making Positive Changes
Balance your diet
Choosing the right things to eat is a major part of healthy recovery behavior. Eating the right foods will help you recover faster than eating poorly. You’ll want to try and eat foods that are rich in vitamins and protein. Vitamins (like A, B, C, and D) and other nutrients like calcium, zinc, and copper promote tissue growth and immune system strength.
Make sure you’re also eating enough food as well. As you’re recovering, you won’t need as many calories as when you were working. However, cutting your intake by too much can impede your recovery. Your body uses more energy during the early stages of injury for repairs, so make sure to still eat enough to help your body along.
Stick to the plan
After your injury, your doctor will help you come up with a treatment plan. Healthy recovery behavior means sticking to this plan even when you might want to take a day off. Stick to your physical therapy visits or at-home exercise routines. Putting them off will just make your recovery last longer than it should. Following their plan will help you recover quickly and properly.
Set recovery goals
Sometimes, it can feel like you’re stuck during your recovery. You’ll feel like you’re doing all the right things, but not seeing improvement. Writing down goals for your recovery is a good way to keep yourself motivated during your recovery. Setting realistic goals for yourself gives you something to work towards and will show you’re really making progress.
Get some rest
Being well-rested is another large part of healthy recovery behavior. Poor sleep can leave you fatigued and unfocused, causing you to not recover as well as you should be. You might be tempted to try and push yourself through your recovery, but that’ll do you more harm than good in the long run.
Keeping a positive mindset is the biggest thing when it comes to recovering from an injury. If your mind is in the right place, then you’ll recover faster than you might’ve originally expected.
Jul 2, 2023 | Employment, Work Injuries
Coming back from war can be a huge adjustment, in a number of different ways. From PTSD, to getting back into your civilian life, and finding work outside of the military— no part of this change is easy. However, one part of that adjustment which should be made easier is finding employment post-deployment. However, the sad fact of the matter is, it can be really difficult for veterans to find work outside of the military. But, we’re here to help change that.
Finding Employment Post-Deployment: Veteran’s Affairs
Expect your job to be extremely different
One of the largest struggles for veteran’s readjusting into civilian life is the vast difference between the impact their job has on the world around them. After all, the choices you make during deployment can mean life or death. Therefore, a common complaint when finding employment post-deployment is that it lacks excitement and impact. While there is certainly some truth to your job not holding the same kind of impact as it did on the battlefront, you have to understand that the impact of your new position is merely a different type.
Understand that your impact will look different, but is still important
As we’ve begun to explain, you have to begin to understand that impact is not a one-trick pony. Every person in a job position serves a purpose. Depending on what your job is, your purpose will look a bit different. However, even when you’re serving coffee— you’re helping people start their day, be productive, and improve their attitude for the people around them. Your job, and the way you do it, makes a difference in how other people are able to do theirs. Finding employment post-deployment might mean adjusting your opinion on what making a difference looks like. This can be difficult sometimes. Therefore, it might help to try and put some of those reasons why you’re leaving the military into perspective.
Remember why you’re there
You left the military for a certain reason. That reason is unique to every single person. Whether your contract is up, you have a baby on the way, or you’ve been injured— your objective for getting out is something to keep in mind. Finding employment post-deployment can be difficult. Especially when you’re looking for the right fit. Finding something that focuses in on your special skills, as well as provides you with time to do those things you were missing out on while you were gone.
Research companies that aim to hire veterans
Companies such as Boeing, USAA, U.S. Customs, Amazon, and Coca Cola are among those listed as ‘companies actively looking to hire vets’. When finding employment post-deployment, a great place to start is at the Veterans Affairs office. There are many companies across the country that make it their mission to hire veterans, and the VA will often be able to point you in the right direction. However, there are plenty of resources you can find online as well.
Jun 25, 2023 | Work Injuries, Workers' Compensation
A worker’s compensation claim can follow with a couple different things. Some will modify your duty at work, and others mean time off to recover. However, your employer and the insurance company may be eager for you to return to work. You shouldn’t rush returning to work— it can be detrimental to your recuperation. Even you might feel like you are ready to make a workforce re-entrance. Remember that there are several steps you need to take before doing so after a worker’s compensation claim.
Workforce Re-Entrance: Getting Back in the Swing
Talk to Your Doctor
Your doctor will become a common point of contact after a workplace injury. He/she will develop a plan for recovery. This plan will project when you can make your workforce re-entrance. Your doctor will clear you to return when they feel you are medically sound. After reaching your peak improvement level, you should consult your doctor. Sometimes, doctors may allow you to return to your job with modifications or restrictions.
Be Prepared
If you are allowed to return to work with restrictions per the doctor, be prepared. Bring a note with those details to your employer. You should keep a copy of this note for your records. Be advised that workforce re-entrance with restrictions is important to your full recovery. If your employer does not follow the doctor’s orders, please consult your legal representation.
Stay Connected
Staying in contact with your doctor is important. What’s also important is staying in contact with your employer. Giving your employer updates on your status and recovery will make your workforce re-entrance smoother. These updates lets your employer know you’re taking your recovery seriously. When you do return to work, make sure you inform the proper authorities that you are doing so.
Make a Plan
When you make your workforce re-entrance, making a plan is a good idea. You can make this plan with help from your employer. Therefore, you, your employer, and even your doctor will have a clear and concise means of planning for your return and what that looks like.
Don’t Rush
Lastly, a workforce re-entrance probably means you’ll start making the same amount of money that you made pre-injury. If a doctor has given medical clearance for you to start working again but you still feel like something is wrong, consult your lawyer as soon as possible. Ask any questions you have regarding your case before returning.
Jun 12, 2023 | Work Injuries, Workers' Compensation
Getting back to work after a work injury can be difficult, painful, and time consuming. Furthermore, you’re likely wondering what the requirements are for returning to work. Who do I have to tell? Will I still receive necessary medical care? And can I request light duty? Making your work return after an injury can be a difficult process. But we’re here to answer questions, and help make sense of it all.
Making your Work Return after Work Injury: What Do I Need to Know?
After an accident or illness on the job, making your work return can be stressful. However, a doctor may release you to begin light duty. While the pain may be manageable, it may still be there. That means, at times, even light duty work responsibilities may still leave you hurting. Furthermore, there is also a chance you may not be returning to the same job or position. In that case you will have the stress of learning a new position and developing a new routine. In the midst of these stressful issues, you may also have questions about workers comp.
Compensation for lost time
After you go back to work, you may still miss some days due to you injury or illness. For instance, doctor’s appointments and therapy session may be a cause of missing time. In addition, just being in pain or sick may require you to stay out of work. In that case, you may be able to receive worker’s comp for that lost time even after returning to light duty, or standard, work.
Keeping your previous job open
Your employer does not have to keep your job open. However, a lot of employers will take you back when you can return for light duty. Therefore, it may be a good idea to keep in contact with your employer throughout your injury process. Keep them updated, ask about your position, and make preparations for your return.
Who you should tell?
Before you feel ready to return to work, or when the doctor gives the all clear, it’s important to make your employer aware and begin making preparations. Furthermore, once you return to work, you must notify the Worker’s Compensation Board. Lastly, the insurance carrier that is paying your medical bills should be made aware as well.
Understanding Your Benefits
Returning to work can be a challenging, but understanding your benefits and responsibilities— makes the process that much smoother. While unfortunate, it can be very easy to be denied benefits, or taken advantage of, during the worker’s compensation process. If you feel that you fall into that category, reach out to an attorney today. Dealing with a work injury is difficult enough already, don’t lose out on your benefits, or position, as well.
Jun 11, 2023 | malpractice, Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress, Work Injuries
One of the most puzzling things to endure, is to receive a diagnosis, but no resulting relief. After some time trying to treat an injury or ailment, you might make a second trip to the doctor and realize that you received a misdiagnosis. As a result, you’ve spent months fighting the wrong issue, and now your current one has progressed. If you find yourself in this scenario, and now facing further medical intervention, you might be wondering how you can get those months of financial burden, and wrongful treatment, back. While no one can return your time and hurting, you can potentially file a medical malpractice suit against the doctor who worsened your condition.
Misdiagnosis as Medical Malpractice: Making a Case
These types of cases occur when a doctor fails to diagnose an injury, or fails to identify the correct one. Without a diagnosis, you cannot find relief or treatment to try and heal your injury. Therefore, in the time you are spending treating the wrong injury, or receiving no treatment at all, your condition can worsen.
Proving Your Case
In order to hold your doctor accountable, you must be able to prove your case in three ways.
A doctor-patient relationship existed. First, you must prove that a doctor-patient relationship existed. By that, you must have records of seeing this doctor on several occasions. In order to show that he had enough time to see you and treat your symptoms.
The negligence of the doctor. Another aspect you may need to prove is that your doctor was negligent. In short, this means he or she did not provide treatment in a suitable manner. This manner can mean that they do not provide the right treatment or within a timely manner.
Their negligence caused you injury. In the end, you must also be able to prove that their negligence caused you injury. By that, in not treating you, they made your symptoms worse or brought about a new problem.
Receiving Your Compensation
In the event that you suffered from this type of medical malpractice, you may be able to sue your doctor. Since you did not receive the treatment you needed to improve your health, your quality of life may suffer. Furthermore, you may endure lasting pain and other symptoms that require treatment or medication. Therefore, it is important for you to understand your rights and benefits.
