A Workers’ Compensation injury in Chicago is not simply a medical problem, especially when it is a very serious injury. It is an example of a complex biological/psychosocial phenomenon. There are many factors to consider, and the psychological factors should never be overlooked. However, simply because someone is not recovering at the rate a physician believes they should be, is not necessarily a definitive reason to prescribe psychotherapy.
The only way to confidently prescribe this type of treatment is to perform the necessary diagnostics. However, when it comes to the psychological complications caused by a work related injury, physicians may be reluctant to perform diagnostics or evaluation. This is because once they know there is a problem, they must proceed with the indicated treatment—which may be out of their realm of expertise and understanding.
Once diagnosed, psychological complications may be effectively treated with the proper combination of counseling and therapy. This may result in a longer period of recuperation and can often be costly. However, without proper treatment, the injured party may never be able to recover sufficiently to return to work, leading to untold emotional and financial hardship for themselves and their families.
What is Delayed Recovery?
The term delayed recovery is basically when a patient is not responding to medical treatment within the normal time frame in which his or her physician would expect progress to occur. Occasionally (approximately 5% of the time) this can be due to an inaccurate medical diagnosis. However, it is well understood that it is usually related to undiagnosed psychosocial factors.
These factors can encompass long-term personality patterns, as to the level of perseverance and drive an individual expresses, economic and cultural factors, and of course, the legal factors that inevitably influence the course of rehabilitation. Other problems that must be considered are undiagnosed personality disorders which are exacerbated by the stress of the injury, early life abuse, compromised motivation, and anxiety or depression (often a direct result of the injury itself).
Depression often compromises motivation, so a patient may be labeled as non-compliant when they may simply be suffering from hopelessness and depression. They may feel that nothing is helping, and in these cases, what the patient begins to believe about their condition is extremely important. The patient may think and believe something very different than what their physician is telling
them, despite the fact that the physician is correct.
This is a multifactorial situation, which if ignored, is really quite costly in terms of medical outcome and financial cost. Having a knowledgeable Chicago workers’ compensation lawyer on your side can help ensure you understand your rights when it comes to every aspect of injury treatment, including counseling and therapy if necessary.
Choose an Experienced Chicago Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
If you or someone you love has sustained a work related injury, the best thing you can do is contact an experienced Chicago workers’ compensation lawyer as soon as possible. When an injury first occurs, it may be difficult to assess the situation and understand what types of treatment will be necessary. By working with a dedicated legal professional from Shea Law Group, you can rest easy knowing that you will be financially prepared for unforeseeable consequences.
Our legal team has handled thousands of Workers’ Comp cases and we have negotiated hundreds similar to yours. We know how important it is to prepare for an extensive recovery that may include psychological counseling and therapy sessions, as well as physical rehabilitation—and we are here to help.
