Work Comp Prescription
Back injuries are the most common workplace injury, from lifting strains and repetitive loading to disc injuries and falls. They are also among the most variable in how they are treated, because two people with what sounds like the same back injury can need very different medication depending on whether a nerve is involved.
This page explains what is commonly prescribed and how workers’ comp coverage tends to work for back injury medication. It is not medical advice and it should not influence what you take. That is between you and your treating physician.
Common types of work-related back injury
- Muscle and ligament strains, typically from lifting, twisting or sudden loading
- Muscle spasm, which often accompanies a strain and can be the most disabling part of it early on
- Disc injuries, including herniation, which may compress a nerve
- Sciatica and radiating pain, where the pain travels into the buttock or leg rather than staying in the back
- Repetitive strain from sustained posture or repeated motion rather than a single incident
- Fractures and more serious trauma from falls or impacts
What is typically prescribed
Depending on the diagnosis, a treating physician may prescribe from several categories:
- Anti-inflammatory medication, frequently the first line for strain and inflammation
- Non-opioid analgesics for pain relief
- Muscle relaxants, commonly short term where spasm is a significant part of the problem
- Medications for nerve pain, where the injury involves nerve compression or irritation, which is the usual distinction between a simple strain and a disc-related injury
- Topical preparations applied over the affected area
- Short courses of stronger analgesia in acute or post-surgical cases
Medication is normally one part of a plan that also includes physical therapy and a graded return to activity, and for most back injuries the activity element carries more weight in the outcome than the medication does.
Coverage points specific to back injuries
A few things come up repeatedly on back claims:
Because back injuries are common and often have a pre-existing element, carriers scrutinize the relationship between the medication and the accepted injury more closely than on, say, a laceration.
Nerve pain medications and compounded topicals are two of the categories most likely to need prior authorization.
Repetitive strain injuries can be harder to get accepted in the first place, because there is no single incident, and the medication follows the claim.
Longer-running back claims often hit the point where an original authorization expires and needs renewing, which produces a sudden refusal on a medication you have been taking for months.
All four of those are process problems rather than clinical ones, and all four are what we handle. If a back injury prescription has been refused or delayed, call us at (317) 676-5752 with the details.
Call (317) 676-5752What to do if your back pain is getting worse
Speak to your treating physician rather than adjusting your medication.
Some symptoms need immediate medical care
Certain symptoms need prompt medical attention rather than a pharmacy conversation, including:
- New or worsening weakness in a leg
- Numbness in the groin area
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
If you experience those, seek medical care immediately.
FAQ
What medication is prescribed for a back injury at work?
Commonly anti-inflammatories, non-opioid analgesics, short-term muscle relaxants where spasm is involved, and nerve pain medications where a nerve is affected. Your treating physician decides based on the diagnosis.
Does workers’ comp cover muscle relaxers?
Generally yes for the accepted injury, though longer courses may require prior authorization.
Why was my nerve pain medication refused?
Nerve pain medications and compounded topicals commonly require prior authorization, and on back claims carriers scrutinize the link to the accepted injury closely. It is usually resolved with justification from your prescriber.
My medication was approved before and has now been refused. Why?
On longer-running claims an authorization can expire and need renewing. It is a common and fixable cause of sudden refusal on a medication you have been taking for months.
The material contained on this site is for informational purposes only and DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PROVIDING OF MEDICAL ADVICE, and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health.
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Patient Direct Pharmacy 3350 N. High School Rd. Ste. JIndianapolis, IN 46224
(317) 676-5752