Over the years we have seen many relatively minor lower back injuries. These are cases where, perhaps, there has been soft tissue damage to ligaments and muscles, often caused by lifting something heavy at work or a whiplash injury.

For manual workers, particularly those with heavy jobs such as bricklaying, labouring, plastering, carpentry and the like, the presence of ongoing permanent back pain caused by a lifting injury is different – it can mean not being able to work. That is, ongoing symptoms that prevent someone working full time on an ongoing basis in all winds and weathers throughout the year.

It might, of course, still be possible to work on a part time basis or do a little work here and there. However, a full day’s work, from 8am to 5pm, to customer or contract deadlines, or unloading vans or lorries at speed often becomes difficult or impossible.

In these circumstances, re-training to be able to do lighter work, perhaps which pays less, becomes a real possibility. While this can give rise to training costs and a partial ongoing loss of earnings, this can often be claimed.  

If you have been injured and are in this situation, ring us for a free no obligation chat on 0800 024 1400.