Pain management in the context of workers compensation: a case study

The clinical management of chronic pain is a biopsychosocial challenge in itself; however, when the pain occurs in the context of workers compensation, there is even greater clinical complexity. A review of the literature shows that patients being treated for chronic pain under workers compensation are generally more distressed and have poorer outcomes both clinically and vocationally than non-compensated patients. A range of factors is identified to explain these differences, including operation of the system itself. However, a case study is presented involving a 49-year-old woman with chronic neck pain, whose clinical history illustrates how workers compensation can negatively influence outcomes, but where successful rehabilitation is also possible.