The Effect of Prolonged Opioid Use on a Workers' Compensation Claim

photo credit: Flickr user - Charles Williams

A major issue affecting workers compensation in recent years has been an overuse of pain medications, especially those commonly referred to as opioids. Opioids cover a range of medications that are used to help relieve pain.  Included are drugs such as oxycodone and vicodin, which may cause an addiction if not taken as prescribed, or taken for long periods of time.  Developing a dependency on these types of drugs is seen in injured employees whose injuries have warranted their use for pain management.  If you or a family member is now dependant on a drug due to a work related injury, seek the counsel of an experienced Missouri workers compensation attorney.  If the addiction can be directly connected to treating pain from your accident, you may be able to add the treatment of the addiction to your claim.

For extremely painful work related injuries, such as back injury, it is common for a physician to prescribe one of these strong painkillers.  Studies show that over 40 percent of workers with back pain were given a prescription for an opioid, and that after a year 16 percent were still being treated for the pain with them even though it is recommended that they only be used in the short term. 

Many states have already enacted legislation to better monitor the distribution of opioids, and Missouri is now in the process of attempting to do the same.  In the meantime, insurance companies are looking at the problem in relation to injured workers and attempting to curb the number of opioid medications being prescribed.  It has been shown that prolonged use leads to a longer disability and a poorer outcome for injured workers.  This is because patients who take these medications for a long period of time will build up a dependency on them.  Insurance companies may balk at the idea of having to pay prescription benefits to an employee who is now dependant on opioids.  The assistance of a workers compensation attorney may be required to help show how it has unfortunately become a necessary part of their medical care.

A dependence on narcotic painkillers will likely occur after prolonged use.  The body begins to build up a tolerance to the effects of the medication making it necessary for the patient to increase the dosage.  Doctors may have a difficult time determining whether the pain is real or if the patient has developed a drug problem.  A Missouri miner faced this issue after having to have his leg amputated due to a work related injury.  His attorney successfully fought to not only get him benefits for the injury, but also for the treatment of his subsequent drug dependency. 

Workers Compensation Attorneys

The symptoms that accompany withdrawal from these medications can be severe and will require further medical treatment.  If the dependency developed as a result of you work injury than it should only be fair that workers compensation cover the cost of its treatment as well.  If your employer is refusing to pay the medical costs associated with your prescription drug dependency ask a workers compensation lawyer to help you file a claim.  As you would not have need for this type of treatment had the work place injury not occurred, it should be considered a necessary part of your treatment and covered by their insurance.

To schedule a free and private consultation with a Missouri workers compensation attorney, contact the Law Office of James M. Hoffmann by calling (314) 361-4300 or by filling out our online contact form.