Plantar fasciitis and other heal injuries in Illinois job accidents
A Chicago man called us the other day looking to learn more about whether or not his plantar fasciitis was related to his work activities. We won't go in to his specific facts, but here are some things to think about:
1. The plantar fascia is a medical term for the cushion from your heal to the bottom of your foot. The older you get the more worn down it gets. It also wears away with excessive use.
2. If you have a simple desk job it would be difficult to prove that your heal injury is related to your job unless you had a specific incident where you banged your heal against a desk or something like that.
3. Most Illinois workers' compensation cases that involve plantar fasciitis are from people that have to walk an excessive amount or have to work on un-even surfaces. We have also seen cases where having to wear certain types of footwear like steel toed boots contributed to the problem.
4. Other common contributors to the problem are obesity and diabetes. Remember though, even if you have those problems, if your job aggravates or accelerates your condition it should be covered.
5. Like most injuries, the most important thing to do if your heal is hurting is to see a doctor and hopefully solve the problem before it's too big. The longer you wait the more likely surgery is going to be needed.
6. Finally, it's not uncommon for these problems to last a lifetime, even with surgery. Many of our clients have been given permanent restrictions or forced to find a new job. The good news is that IL work comp law protects you in that situation.
We are workers' compensation attorneys that help people with Illinois work injuries anywhere in IL via our statewide network of attorneys. Contact us and we will answer your questions or find the right lawyer for your situation.
