In Pennsylvania, a worker that suffers a work accident to his low back or neck may be diagnosed with a herniated disc.  For many workers in Easton, Bethlehem, or Allentown, Pennsyvlania, the end of the work day means a sore back.   The worker generally goes to his/her home and gets rest and is able to continue work the next day with minor discomfort.  However, a worker who suffers a herniated disc generally experiences a worsening of low back or neck pain as the days go on and eventually is required to seek medical attention.

For most workers, the words, “herniated disc” is a medical term that they heard other workers mutter, but do not truly understand the basic medical condition.  An excellant website for injured workers is . The website contains excellant animations which are easy to follow is http://www.spine-health.com/.

For an injured worker, it is important to understand the function of a disc. A vertebral disc is both a “spacer” and a “cushion” for the vertebreal bodies. Basically, every worker has vertebrea (back bones) which are fit together like a puzzle. Between each bone, the disc acts as a spacer which allows the nerve roots to exit the spinal column and travel to the rest of the body (including the workers arms and legs). The disc itself has two main components, a nucleus and an annular fibrosis. I often tell injured workers to think of it as a jelly donut. Doctors often say the consistency of the disc is similar to crab meat. When a disc breaks (or herniates), it loses its ability to act as a spacer, which in turn causes pressure on the exiting nerve roots. This pressure on the nerve roots causes severe pain. For the injured worker, this type of pain is not like anything he or she has experienced in the past. For a herniated disc in the neck, the injured worker generally experiences a shooting pain down one or both arms. For a herniated disc in the low back, the injured worker generally experiences pain down one or both legs. This shooting pain or sensation is called “radiculopathy”.As an injured worker, it is critical that you request an MRI from your treating doctor. An MRI is an excellant test to determine the presence of a herniated disc. X-rays or Ct-Scans do not clearly show the discs since the disc is not made of bone (discs are only made of soft tissues). Once an MRI confirms a herniated disc, the injured worker should immediately seek the help of an orthopedist. An Orthopedist is a doctor who specializes in bone, muslce, and tendon injuries and will be able to properly treat the injury.In summary, an injured worker in Easton, Bethlehem, or Allentown should perform his or her own research on their injuries to become better educated on the medical terminology. Too often an injured worker is required to become more involved in the medical aspects of their case to get medical care approved by the insurance companies.

THE FOREGOING IS A GENERAL DISCUSSION ON MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY AND LEGAL ASPECTS OF A COMPENSATION INJURY. SHOULD YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC MEDICAL QUESTION, PLEAES CONSULT A PHYSICIAN. SHOULD YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC LEGAL QUESTION, PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE AT (610) 258-5995 OR (908) 454-3200.

Residents of Allentown, Bethelehem, and Easton, may be required to attend different compensation courts.  When a worker suffers a work injury or accident, the workers compensation generally admits the claim and provides some form of medical care.  However, there are various instances when a work injury requires you to attend court proceedings.  As a housekeeping matter, where would a resident of Allentown, Bethlehem, or Easton, have to go?

 For all Allentown injured workers, you would be required to attend the Allentown Workers Compensation Court located at ??  Basically, this location is at the bottom of the hill on Hamilton Blvd.  The building is a one level gray building on the right hand side.  This building is the headquarter building for all Workers Compensation Judges in the your area.

However, if you are an injured worker and live in Easton or Bethlehem Pennsyvlania, you will be required to attend a “roaming” workers compensation court or a satellite court.  The Court is located in the Northampton  County Courthouse and hearings are normally held in Court Room 8. 

 Based on the foregoing locations, an injured work in Allentown, Bethlehem, or Easton Pennsyvlania will not have to travel over 15 miles to attend anyone court. 

[THE FOREGOING IS A BRIEF LEGAL DISCUSSION ON THE LAW AND IS NOT INTENDED TO BE A SUBSITUTE FOR SPECIFIC LEGAL ADVICE.  IF YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC QUESTION, PLEASE CONTACT MY OFFICE.]

If you reside in Allentown, Pennsylvania and suffer an injury at work, you may be required to attend a workers compensation court. 

In the Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton area of Pennsylvania, there are several work related injuries of the hand and feet.  One rare medical condition that may occurr from a work accident or injury is RSD or now known as CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome).www.neurologychannel.com/rsd/index.shtml.

RSD stands for Reflex Sympathetic Distrophy. RSD is basically a breakdown of the involuntary nervous system in the hands or feet. Trauma to the hand or feet from a work injury or accident may trigger the condition.

Symptoms of RSD are plentiful and include severe swelling of the extremity, a “waxy” look to the extremity, allodynia (unusual pain from normal activities), discoloration, unusual temporature changes of the extremity, and unusual hairgrowth.

There is no decisive test to confirm RSD for an injured worker. However, some tests provide guidance. One is a bone scan which may indicate a degree of bone loss associated with RSD. Another test is providing nerve blocks and evaluate how the extremity responds.

If you are an injured worker in the Allentown, Bethlehem, or Easton area of Pennsylvania, you must see an attorney to discuss your rights. Too often RSD cases are fully litigated. The defense in these cases often use the lack of a “gold standard test” to terminate your medical beneifts.

[the foregoing is intended for a general medical and legal discussion. It is not a substitute for medical or legal advice. If you have a specific question, please contact our office]

By:  Brian A. Roemersma, Esq. 

In this new economic climate, employers are laying off several employees.  These layoffs impact the safety of workers who remain on the job.  Specifically, (more…)

If you are a manual laborer, statistics indicate you are likely to suffer a significant work injury at some point in time.  A work injury can occur at any time.  Most workers simply believe it only happens to someone else.  Unfortunately, it will probably happen to you.  When you suffer a work injury, here are some helpful tips.

 First, when a work injury occurs, report the injury immediately to a supervisor.  Most workers are not involved in an obvious work injury such as a motor vehicle accident, but are more likely to suffer an injury lifting something.  The worker lifts something heavy and feels sore at the end of the day, but does not want to be a complainer.  The worker usually goes home and tries to “sleep off” the pain.  It is not until days later when the worker decides this is not the typical sore back, but something is seriously wrong.  Again, it is imperative to report the injury once the worker believes he has a serious work injury.

Once the work injury is reported, it will depend on whether your injury occurred in New Jersey or Pennsylvania.  For a work injury which occurs in New Jersey, the compensation insurance company has the right to control (i.e. select) your treating doctor for the entire treatment period.  In contrast, a Pennslyvania work injury only requires the injured worker to treat with the compensation doctor for the first 90 days.

 Once you obtain medical treatment, be sure to explain to the doctor how the accident occurred.  Try to be as specific as possible as to “how” the work injury occurred.  For example, describe your line of work, your job duties, and what you were lifting on the day the accident occurred. 

Finally, consult an attorney to discuss your rights.  A work injury in New Jersey will provide different rights than a work injury in Pennsylvania.  Some workers will be able to choose between Pennsylvania and New Jersey.  Therefore, if you believe your injury and employer has New Jersey and Pennslyvania contacts/locations, be sure to see an attorney who practices both New Jersey and Pennslyvania Compensation.

[THE FOREGOING SHOULD NOT BE INTERPRETED AS LEGAL ADVICE.  IF YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC QUESTION REGARDING A WORK INJURY, PLEASE EMAIL BRIAN A. ROEMERSMA, OR CALL THE OFFICE FOR AN APPOINTMENT]