Sick leave due to cervical pain and whiplash. Time off work due to cervical pain and whiplash

The cervical vertebrae make up the upper end of the spinal column. Specifically, they are located in the neck and have the function of supporting the head. It is undoubtedly one of the weakest points in our anatomy and, therefore, one of the most susceptible to discomfort leading to time off work.
Pain in this area of the body is known as cervical pain. But do you know how many days of sick leave it entails? This is the main question we are going to answer here

What is cervical pain?

As we have already mentioned, cervical pain is pain in the neck caused by any problem in the cervical vertebrae. It should not be confused with torticollis, as this problem affects the muscles in the area, but not the bone structure.
Cervical pain is extremely common among the world's population. In fact, 80% have suffered from it at some time. It affects both men and women equally.

Why does neck pain occur?

Neck discomfort can occur for many reasons. However, we can group them all into two broad categories:

• Bad postural habits. For example, driving for a long time every day or spending a lot of time in front of the computer for work or leisure reasons can lead to neck pain.
• Sudden movements. These are particularly common in the aftermath of a traffic accident. In fact, "whiplash" (sudden front-to-back zig-zag movements) accounts for 30% of all injuries among drivers.

Main symptoms of neck pain

Medical specialists assess the severity of cervical pain according to the symptoms shown by the patient. Let's take a look at them:

• Grade 1. The person shows persistent pain in the neck area.
• Grade 2. The pain intensifies when the doctor proceeds to palpate the cervical spine. In addition, the discomfort is accompanied by inflammation.
• Grade 3. At this point, the patient shows not only pain and swelling, but also certain neurological symptoms. This is the case, for example, with loss of reflexes or lack of strength in the upper limbs.
• Grade 4. The most severe of all. In order for it to be established, the subject must have a fracture or dislocation of the cervical vertebrae.

In addition, some people experience dizziness, tingling in the limbs and problems falling asleep.

What does the treatment of neck pain consist of?

Essentially, anti-inflammatory drugs and muscle relaxants. Physiotherapy sessions are also often prescribed. In contrast to not so long ago, the use of a neck brace is no longer recommended..

Sick leave due to cervical pain

Unless there has been a fracture or dislocation of the cervical vertebrae that requires surgery, the only solution for cervical pain is rest. In this sense, since in most cases it is considered a common contingency, it is the primary care physician who is responsible for granting temporary sick leave to the worker.

A very important piece of advice

There is a common problem among those who suffer from whiplash. We are talking, of course, about the fact that the discomfort often occurs after a few hours and especially the next day. This can be a real problem, especially for those who have suffered whiplash at work or "in itinere". The reason? Both the primary care doctor and the doctor of the mutual insurance company to which the employee is subject may consider that it is not clear that the injury was caused by the accident. Especially if the employee continued to perform his or her duties normally. Apart from ruling out other types of injuries that are not visible to the naked eye, this is one of the main reasons why you should always go to the hospital for an examination after a traffic accident. In addition, this injury report will allow you to claim compensation from the insurance company. To give you an idea, in 2022 the scale was 57.04 euros for each day of sick leave.

How to ask for sick leave for whiplash?

Once you have the injury report confirming the whiplash, make an appointment with your GP. You should do the same if you begin to suffer discomfort for any other reason.
Give him/her the document, let him/her examine you and ask him/her to sign the sick leave report, which you must then give to the company. This specialist will be responsible for monitoring your problem, prescribing the medication you need and discharging you when he/she verifies that you have recovered.

How long can you be off work for neck pain?

This is a very difficult question to answer, as everyone is different. However, according to official sources, the average period of sick leave is between 15 and 90 days, depending on the severity of the neck pain.

But is it possible to obtain permanent incapacity for neck pain? It is almost impossible unless the problem becomes chronic, which is not common.

We hope that, with this information, you have answered all your questions about whiplash or cervicalgia. But if you have any further questions, please contact us. We will be happy to help you.