Chiropractic treatment can be beneficial to relieve the effects of your work injury. However, in some cases, the treatment may not be allowed under Minnesota workers’ compensation. It may be necessary for you to obtain an attorney to assist you in obtaining the reasonable and necessary medical treatment.
Under Minnesota work comp there are limits to the type and duration of medical treatment an injured worker may receive including chiropractic treatment. These limits are based under on the Minnesota Treatment Parameters.
If you think that your work activities have contributed or caused you to sustain a work injury (i.e. repetitive injury, overuse injury, Gillette injury), it is important that you describe to your doctor what your job duties involve. Your treating physician is there to provide care and often times will not ask or inquire as to the specific cause or mechanism of your injury. Therefore, it is important that you be honest and upfront with your doctor about the job duties you perform. Make sure to describe items such as what you lift, carry, push, pull, grip or grasp. Describe how often you do a certain task during a day, week or month. Be as specific as possible. In many cases of repetitive or overuse injuries, medical support or an opinion from your doctor tying the work activities to your injury is needed to win your case. The treating doctor must state the work activities were a substantial contributing cause to the injury. (photo: Morguefile)
I have never been one to get on my soapbox and point fingers but this issue has been bugging me as of late. I assume this has been something plaintiffs attorneys have been dealing with since the dawn of man. How does an injured worker, who has been denied workers’ compensation benefits, who does not have health insurance or access to MinnesotaCare, receive proper medical treatment immediately following a work related injury?
The answer: They do not.
