You may notice that your pain improves when you rest, only to return once you are back at work. Perhaps lifting, standing, typing, driving or repeating the same movement brings the discomfort back again.
When this happens repeatedly, it can be frustrating. You may start wondering whether the problem has actually healed or whether something about your work is continuing to aggravate it.
Recurring pain can have several causes, and understanding the relationship between your symptoms and your working activities can be an important first step.
Why do work-related injuries keep coming back?
Some work-related injuries develop gradually rather than from one obvious accident.
Repeating the same movement, lifting throughout the day, working in an awkward position or suddenly increasing your workload can place repeated demands on your body.
If the affected area does not have enough opportunity to recover before being exposed to the same demands again, symptoms may return.
This does not necessarily mean that your injury is becoming more serious. However, recurring pain is worth paying attention to rather than simply working through it.
Are your work activities aggravating the problem?
One of the most useful things to consider is what happens when your pain appears.
For example, you might notice:
• Back pain after repeated lifting
• Shoulder pain after working with your arms for long periods
• Wrist or hand pain after repetitive tasks
• Knee pain after prolonged standing or walking
• Neck pain after spending long periods at a workstation
The timing of your symptoms can provide useful clues. If pain consistently increases during a particular task, that activity may be placing more demand on the affected area than it can currently tolerate.
Returning to work too quickly
Another reason pain may keep returning is going back to full duties before your body is ready.
After an injury, it can be tempting to return to your normal workload as soon as the pain starts to improve. However, feeling better does not always mean that the affected area is ready to cope with the same level of physical demand.
A sudden return to heavy lifting, repetitive movements or long working hours may cause symptoms to flare again.
A phased return to work may be more appropriate in some situations, depending on the injury and your individual circumstances.
Could the way you work contribute?
The problem is not always the amount of work you do. How you perform your work can also matter.
Identifying these patterns does not mean you necessarily need to stop working. It can help you understand what may be contributing to the problem and what changes might be worth considering.
What should you do when pain keeps returning?
Try not to ignore recurring symptoms.
Pay attention to when the pain starts, which activities make it worse, and whether it improves when you are away from work. This information can be useful when discussing the problem with a healthcare professional.
You should also avoid repeatedly pushing through significant or worsening pain simply because you need to complete your working day.
If symptoms continue despite changes to your activity, an assessment can help determine what may be contributing to the problem.
When can physiotherapy help with a work-related injury?
Physiotherapy for work related injuries can help when pain is affecting your ability to carry out your normal duties or keeps returning during work.
An assessment may consider your symptoms, movement, strength and the physical demands of your job. This can help identify factors that may be contributing to the problem and determine an appropriate approach to recovery.
A physiotherapist for work related injury can also provide guidance on managing your activities and gradually building your ability to cope with work-related demands.
The aim is not simply to treat the painful area but to help you understand why the symptoms may be returning.
Don't keep working through recurring pain
A work-related injury does not always disappear simply because the pain temporarily settles.
If the same symptoms return whenever you resume particular work activities, it may be worth finding out what is contributing to them rather than repeatedly waiting for the pain to settle.
If you are experiencing work related injury pain that is affecting your working day, a professional musculoskeletal assessment can help you understand your symptoms and identify appropriate next steps.
The Physiotherapy Centre provides physio rehab for work related injury pain, with guidance based on your individual symptoms and the demands of your work.
