Dealing with health problems that stem from a job you used to have can be confusing to say the least, as you may be suffering from something that happened years or decades ago, but because of the time that passed, there can be a disconnect between the work that caused the problem and the medical bills you’re dealing with now. For example, perhaps you worked in construction and now you’re dealing with respiratory issues from all the dust and chemicals you were exposed to, or perhaps you spent years doing repetitive motions that have left you with chronic pain or mobility problems that make daily life more difficult than it should be.
The difficulty with occupational health problems is that they often show up gradually, so by the time you realize there’s a connection between your current symptoms and your old job, you might have been retired for years or moved on to completely different work. You could be dealing with anything from hearing loss to joint problems to more serious conditions like mesothelioma or other cancers that take decades to develop, and not only is that news shocking, but you’re not sure what to do next.
In this post, we aim to give you a few pointers you could look to fix.
Get Proper Medical Documentation & Treatment
Speaking to doctors who understand occupational health issues and can properly diagnose and treat conditions related to your former work might take some effort, but having the right medical team can feel inspiring. You could start by looking for specialists who have experience with the specific type of condition you’re dealing with, because they’re more likely to understand the connection between your symptoms and your work history.
If you can attain medical records that clearly document the link between your health problems and your previous employment, that might help you if you need to pursue compensation or benefits later, so you might want to make sure your doctors understand your work history and include that information in their notes.
Explore Options for Financial Compensation
Depending on what kind of work caused your health problems and when you were exposed to whatever’s making you sick, you might be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits, disability payments, or other forms of financial support that can help you with tough medical expenses and lost income. The rules around these benefits can be pretty complicated and you may need to jump through hoops, but there is assistance out there.
For instance, you could consider if there are any class action lawsuits or settlement funds related to your former employer or the specific substances you were exposed to, because sometimes companies set aside money to compensate workers who develop health problems years after leaving the job. Speaking to helpful representation such as Frost Law Firm, PC could help you achieve that.
Build A Support System for Long Term Management
Unfortunately, a health issue from sources such as this can often mean dealing with ongoing symptoms, somewhat frequent medical appointments, and the emotional stress of knowing that your health problems could have been prevented if your former workplace had better safety practices. You might find it helpful to connect with other people who have similar conditions, and you can find them through support groups or online communities, because they understand what you’re going through in ways that friends and family might not.
With this advice, we hope you can more easily manage past health challenges caused by a prior line of work.
