Interestingly, although injuries and discomfort are seen in virtually all countries at about the same rate, disability from those injuries seems to be largely a problem for developed western nations. However, upon introduction of western medical management techniques and philosophies, the rate of disability in those countries increases correspondingly. Not all segments of the injured worker population are affected equally by injuries. A close examination of these high expense cases reveals that many involve an injury where recovery was prolonged well beyond what would normally be expected. Clearly a unified strategy for managing the full spectrum of work-related injury and disability management is needed.
Most individuals experience and accept some discomfort as a part of living.
However, when one experiences pain and discomfort added to increasing psychological or social stresses, anxiety disorders and depression worsen and the physical discomfort becomes unbearable. With the symptoms now accepted as a legitimate injury, this discomfort becomes a newfound venue that, either consciously or unconsciously, allows escape from the original psychosocial discomfort, often justifying failure in a more socially acceptable way. Studies confirm that psychological or social distress can often be manifest as significant physical complaints that create a perceived need for professional health care. If psychosocial stress is coincidental with work activities, even the normal and generally accepted discomfort levels associated with performing a particular job can become intolerable and be reported as a claim. At times, these complaints can have minimal or only coincidental relationship to the actual job tasks.