Never rush returning to your job after an injury. Some employees may feel the need to rush back to work after suffering an injury. However, any injured worker must be careful in deciding when to return to work. If you return too soon, before you are fully ready, you risk re-injury which may cause even more harm than before.

Here are 4 tips to ensure you do not rush back to work.

Doctor’s Release

When you feel you are ready to go back to work, consult your personal or work injury doctor. Schedule a visit with your doctor and discuss your progress and how you are feeling about your recovery. Your doctor may or may not agree that you are ready to return back to work. Follow the doctor’s instructions or advice any restrictions that you should follow. If your doctor is sure that you are ready to go back to work, they may sign a doctor’s release and you should have that before you resume work. But if you still don’t feel ready, discuss other options with your doctor, such as returning with fewer duties at work and slowly increasing time at work before you can start working full time.

Pay attention to your Body

Listen to what your body is telling you. Be aware of your healing and recovery. Don’t try to return if you are not feeling ready yet, especially if your doctor has not permitted. If you are returning to work because of your financial situation and you feel obligated to return to work, consult a worker’s comp attorney to make sure you receive all benefits you are eligible for under workers’ compensation laws.

Follow doctor’s restrictions

If you have been released to return to work, get a copy of the restrictions advised by your doctor for you as well as your employer. Failure to follow such restrictions may make you vulnerable to re-injury and you may have to start the process all over again. For example, your doctor could release you to return to work, but may advise fewer or lighter duties to begin with. Your recovery is the most important thing, so pay attention and follow all the restrictions, as advised by your workers’ comp doctor.

Find out what to do in case of re-injury

If you, unfortunately, injure yourself again upon returning to work, you should know the steps you need to follow. Report the injury to your employer as well as your worker’s compensation lawyer. Your worker’s compensation attorney can advise on what you need to do next to receive all benefits you are eligible for.

To learn more about Arizona workers compensation laws, consult the best Phoenix, AZ, workers’ compensation attorney, call Arizona Injury Law Group at 602-346-9009 right away.