Category: Medical Treatment Articles

If you’ve injured your back at work, your doctor may suggest a variety of treatments – including injections – to relieve pain and help you heal.

This article provides an informative overview of what medical treatments to expect after a work-related neck injury – from initial conservative care through more advanced interventions – and how recovery timelines can vary based on the severity of the injury.

In Georgia’s workers’ compensation system, the Petition for Medical Treatment (WC-PMT) is a formal process for injured workers to quickly resolve disputes over recommended medical care. Implemented in 2017 via State Board of Workers’ Compensation Rule 205(c), the WC-PMT allows a prompt “show cause” conference with a judge when an authorized treating physician’s recommended treatment or testing is not being approved in a timely manner.

When you’re hurt on the job, one of the first things that happens (after treating your injury) is your doctor issues work restrictions. These are specific limits on what you can safely do at work while you recover. Work restrictions serve an important purpose in the workers’ compensation process: they protect you from further injury and guide a safe return to work. In other words, they spell out what activities you should not do (and sometimes what you can do) on the job, given your medical condition. These restrictions are communicated to your employer and the insurance company to make sure everyone understands your current capabilities and limitations.

If you get hurt on the job in Georgia, one of the first things you’ll encounter is the Panel of Physicians. This is a list of doctors your employer has pre-selected for treating work-related injuries. Georgia’s workers’ compensation law requires employers to maintain and post a Panel of Physicians at the workplace. The purpose of this panel is to ensure injured workers receive prompt, appropriate medical care from doctors familiar with work injuries, while also giving the employer some control over medical costs. In simple terms, you must choose your treating doctor from this posted list in order for the treatment to be covered under workers’ comp.

Under Georgia workers compensation law, pre-existing conditions are often a source of confusion for both employees and employers.