Maybe you recently bumped your head while at work. Maybe you were working under a shelf, you sat up, and pop; you have a knot on your head. These kinds of small injuries and accidents happen all the time, and most go unnoticed because it doesn’t feel like a big deal. But no symptom work accidents can end up causing problems in the long run. Ultimately, just because you don’t have immediate symptoms, doesn’t mean there’s no damage…
No Symptom Work Accidents: Facing Delayed Pain?
We mostly associate pain with something not being right in our bodies. However, sometimes pain and injuries may take some time to show themselves. And if you’re facing a work injury, you might be looking for signs as to whether you should report it or not. So, when you feel okay, you’ll likely keep on going and forget it happened. But, with time, maybe that spot continues to hurt, maybe your neck still cramps every day in that certain position. So, we decide to see a doctor.
Should I still report an injury even if I’m not yet experiencing symptoms?
The answer is most certainly, yes. In the case of some injuries, you may have almost no symptoms. However, you may still, in fact, be injured. In many cases, symptoms can take a while to develop. For things like back and joint issues, an initial injury may bring about very few if any symptoms. But over time, that injury can cause pain, discomfort, and many other issues. Let’s look back at that head injury we discussed up top; after experiencing a minor blow to the head or neck, you may not feel too many symptoms. However, by the end of the day you may be coping with a splitting headache.
Following Procedure Even When You Aren’t Hurting
Since symptoms can develop later and become much more severe, it’s always best to follow procedure after an accident. Reporting that initial accident is the smart move to make, even if the injury does not progress. Ultimately, making that report acts as your insurance policy for if, or when, your injury progresses. Plus, it gives you the chance to be proactive in seeing a doctor.
If you, or someone you know, has faced a work injury— you must report it. By doing so, you ensure your own well-being, and make sure you aren’t covering costs for something that happened as a result of your job. So, as always, work safe. But, if you face an injury, cover your bases.