If it just happened
Emergency? Call 911- 1Stop the task that set off the pain. Get urgent care for new numbness, weakness, loss of bladder or bowel control, or pain that is far worse than your usual. Call 911 for a fall with a head injury or chest pain.
- 2Tell your supervisor about the new incident and report it in writing, with the date, time and task.
- 3Write down what happened this time: the lift, slip, twist or impact that brought the pain back.
- 4Describe, in a few sentences, how you were doing before today: working full duty, any limits, how often the old injury bothered you.
- 5Gather your old records: past claim numbers, prior treatment, previous restrictions or clearance to return.
- 6Note who saw the new incident or whom you told.
General information only — not medical or legal advice.
Reporting it and the claim process
Aggravating an old injury is common in construction, warehouse and healthcare work, where the same body parts take a beating year after year. Workers sometimes hesitate to report because they assume a pre-existing condition will not count. Rules vary by state, but many look at whether work made the condition worse, sped it up or caused a new injury on top of the old one.
If your old injury was from an earlier work claim, the new incident might be handled as a new claim, a reopening of the old one, or something else, depending on your state. Ask the adjuster and your state's workers' compensation agency how your situation is classified, and write down their answers.
Deadlines to report and to file vary by state, and they may be different for reopening an old claim. Check promptly rather than assuming your old claim covers it.
Keep your new report, your old records, and a short before-and-after summary of what you could do, in one folder. That comparison is often the heart of these claims.
Getting medical care
Tell the clinician about both the old injury and the new incident. Being clear and honest about your history helps them evaluate what changed. A licensed clinician decides what care fits; follow-up may involve spine care, pain management, physical therapy or rehabilitation.
If you saw a particular provider for the old injury, ask whether you should go back to them or to a new provider for this claim. Some states and employers have rules about which provider you see first, so ask the adjuster.
If you already take prescriptions for the old injury, tell the pharmacy and adjuster about the new incident and ask how work-injury prescriptions will be handled. Home delivery is often available.
Prescribed medication? Learn about prescription home delivery, common medications after work injuries, or find pharmacies near you. Your doctor and pharmacist decide what is right for you.
When people often talk to an attorney
- Your claim is denied because the injury is called pre-existing.
- There is confusion about whether this is a new claim or a reopened old one.
- You were doing well before and now cannot return to your job.
- Two different insurers or employers may be responsible for different parts of the injury.
- You are asked to sign a settlement that may affect your old and new injuries.
- Your chronic pain is worse and care is delayed or limited.
Learn more: what a workers' comp attorney does. Many offer a free first consultation; fees in workers' comp are often regulated by the state.
Recovery and going back to work
Follow the care plan and keep track of how you compare with your usual baseline. Clinicians and adjusters often focus on whether you return to where you were before the new incident.
Ask for updated written restrictions and share them with your employer. If you had restrictions before, make clear which are new.
Stay in touch with your employer and adjuster. If you are dealing with an old claim and a new one, label your paperwork carefully so nothing gets mixed up.
Questions to ask
- Will this be handled as a new claim or as part of my old one?
- Who is the adjuster for this incident?
- Should I go back to the provider who treated my old injury?
- Doctor, can you note in my records what changed after this new incident?
- What new restrictions do I need?
- How are my current and new prescriptions handled, and can they be delivered?
- Attorney, how does my state treat aggravation of a pre-existing condition?
Frequently asked questions
Can I get workers' comp if I re-injured an old injury at work?
You may, depending on your state and the facts. Many states consider a work event that worsens an earlier condition. Report it and be honest about your history.
Should I tell the doctor about my old injury?
Yes, being honest about your history is important. It helps the clinician understand what changed. Hiding it can create problems later.
Is re-injuring an old work injury a new claim?
It depends on your state and the details. It could be a new claim or a reopening of the old one. Ask the adjuster and your state's agency.
What if the insurer says it is a pre-existing condition?
That is a common reason claims are questioned. Records showing how you were doing before the new incident help. People often consult an attorney when a claim is denied this way.
What records help prove my old injury got worse?
Past medical records, earlier restrictions or clearances, and notes about what you could do before help show the change. Your new report and medical records complete the picture. Keep them together.
Does it matter if my old injury happened outside work?
It can, but a work event that worsens it may still be considered in many states. Rules vary. Ask questions and be truthful about what happened.
Related situations
Industries where this often happens
Prescriptions.plus is an educational portal. We are not a pharmacy, law firm, medical provider, insurer or claims administrator, and nothing here is medical or legal advice. Educational purposes only. Workers' compensation rules and deadlines vary by state — check with your state's workers' compensation agency. Medical emergency? Call 911. Hurt outside of work? Personal-injury legal help: attorneys.plus (coming soon).