Work comp litigation and chronic pain Discussion

Worker's compensation litigation and chronic pain: Unfortunately, when persistent pain is labelled work-related, a complicated scenario often develops which promotes dissatisfaction and hinders recovery. This is particularly evident when the primary problem is persistent pain and not simply the early result of a cut or break. Obviously, any chronic health problem can have profound effects on a person's life. However, the influences of compensation and litigation can be so overwhelming to a patient that medical treatment becomes irrelevant or even counterproductive to recovery. This is an entirely different issue than malingering, personality disorder, or laziness, for it seems to develop as a result of a particular set of circumstances. The following elements are present early in the course of most patients who go on to develop chronic compensation related medical problems:

	Fear of additional injury
	Loss of personal responsibility to recover
	Anger at being injured
	Job dissatisfaction

	To stop working
	Focus on symptoms and suffering
	Assign all blame and responsibility to others
	Foster the role as a victim: dependent and angry
	Promise of lotto-type windfall for disability and lost wages

	Reduces pain tolerance
	Undermines normal coping mechanism
	Depression fueled by anger

	Focus on any and all lingering or possibly related symptoms
	Focus on the injury, not on recovery
	Prolonged time to recover

	More doctor's visits
	More therapy
	More medications
	More surgery
	More complications
	More dissatisfaction with the situation

	Financial upset
	Pressure from the job site
	Justify time off work by focusing on disability
	Comp pay for not working
	In time, lifestyle change to no-work