I work. Can I still get treated?

     Many people are of the belief that you cannot work if you are being treated for an injury.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  In fact, in many instances, working can also help you to heal better/more quickly/more completely depending upon what type of work you do.  Of course, there are many instances when the doctor will recommend that the patient refrain from work for a period of time to assist in their treatment or to prevent further injury or exacerbation of the injury.  If such is your case, your doctor will give you a note advising your employer that you need to be off work or be allowed to work light duty for a while.
     I always tell patients that I cannot make them take off work or visa versa, I can't make them continue to work.  I can inform them of the risks and what I believe to be a medical concern about their injuries and their work, but I can't make them stop working.  In most cases, working with an injury might be uncomfortable but not necessarily a risk.
     If your injury is caused by someone else and you miss some work, you will want that other guys insurance to pay you back for lost wages.  It is difficult to get them to do this and that is just another reason you will want to have an attorney handling your claim against that other guy's insurance.  But being able to continue to work AND get treatment is many times the optimal situation.  Will the insurance companies say that I am not hurt since I am able to keep working?  They might, but they might say that anyway, working or not.  Don't worry about what they might or might not say.  Just try to follow your doctor's recommendations as best you can..