New recommendations for treatment of back pain

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American College of Physicians issues new treatment guidelines for individuals with nonradicular low back pain.

The New York Times posted an interesting article about new treatment recommendations for patients suffering from nonradicular low back pain. It follows guidelines published by the American College of Physicians suggesting alternative therapies like exercise, acupuncture, massage therapy or yoga.

Doctors are encouraged to use anti-inflammatories or muscle relaxants before prescribing opioid painkillers. It has also been suggested that MRI scan results can be misleading showing what looks like abnormalities but are not actually related to the pain.

We found this article fascinating because acute low back pain is probably the most common problem under workers’ compensation. Employees get hurt on-the-job and they are looking for answers. Doctors selected by the employer or insurance company make all the decisions about medical care and work restrictions.

We hope insurance companies follow these new guidelines and start offering alternative therapies. Unfortunately, many of our clients are denied basic medical care for no good reason. This creates unnecessary litigation and prolongs suffering.

Michigan law allows an employee to choose his or her own doctor after 28 days. All reasonable and necessary medical treatment should be paid under workers’ compensation. We tell our clients to select their own doctor and get the best medical care available. It is also important to have a doctor on their side who will support the claim if the insurance company files a dispute.

These new guidelines do not include people who are experiencing radiating pain. This is called radiculopathy and it typically occurs when there is some nerve impingement. Pain symptoms can interfere with daily living and prevent an employee from carrying out essential job functions. Surgery may be required and rehabilitation can take months or even years.

Michigan Workers Comp Lawyers never charges a fee to evaluate a potential case. Our law firm has represented injured and disabled workers exclusively for more than 35 years. Call (855) 221-2667 for a free consultation today.

Related information:

Sciatica: It’s a real pain in the buttocks

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons, by FootMassagez.

Author Bio Jeffrey Kaufman

Author
Jeffrey E. Kaufman
Michigan Workers Comp Attorney

Jeffrey E. Kaufman has extensive experience in workers compensation cases and has recovered millions of dollars in benefits for his clients. He believes all injured workers deserve to be on equal footing with insurance companies and employers, and fights tenaciously so their rights are secured and protected.


“Jeff also helped me with getting my Blue Cross bills paid. I would absolutely recommend him and the whole firm. Jeff and the firm did everything they were supposed to do for me and my case.”
Ricardo Perfetto

Hundreds of 5-Star Reviews

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Get Help From our Michigan Workers’ Comp Lawyers Today

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Our attorneys post regularly about common issues related to workers’ comp, including common injuries, settlement calculations, laws, and more.

Injured? It’s Time to Get Some Answers

Don’t let the insurance adjuster push you around. Request your free consultation today.

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Our attorneys post regularly about common issues related to workers’ comp, including common injuries, settlement calculations, laws, and more.

Our workers’ compensation and Social Security disability lawyers always put your needs first. Get to know your legal team.