Connecticut: The Back Strain State?

A health care company compiled state-by-state injury trends

Every medical diagnosis is recorded as a 5-digit medical code. These universal ICD codes are used by the health care industry for billing purposes, tracking and reporting.

Amino, a health care data company, crunched those numbers to reveal some amusing trends. Just as every state has an official motto and a state bird, every state can now claim an unofficial State Injury. Apparently residents of Connecticut are more likely to suffer a strained back than people in other parts of the country.

“He Who Transplanted Still Sustains … Lower Back Injuries”

Amino first sorted the most common injury codes in every state. In Connecticut, the East Coast and the Bible Belt, contusion (bruises) was the most frequent injury reported. In the Midwest and Western U.S., doctors see more cuts and open wounds. Colorado was the lone outlier with falls as the top injury. Maybe all that hiking?

Then the data miners identified an injury code that was disproportionately common in each state. For whatever reason, Connecticut seems to have an unusual rate of back strains. Fits right in with our state motto. 

As the analysis revealed, there are worse injuries to be known for:

• Florida – Land of Head Injury!
• Indiana – Struck By An Angel Object
• Maine – All Fun And Games ‘Til Someone Breaks An Ankle
• Missouri – I Don’t Bite, But My Animal Does
• Hawaii – The Scrape State: We’ll Leave Our Mark On You

Back injuries are one of the leading causes of disability

All kidding aside, back strains can be excruciating and even life-changing. Lower back injuries are one of the most common workplace injuries and one of the most common claims for long-term and permanent disability. A strained back is a tearing of the tendons or muscles, often in the lumbar region (low back). Strains and sprains can be frustratingly slow to heal, and prone to re-injury. Back strains can also be associated with pinched nerves, herniated discs and other complications of the spinal column. Not to mention the danger of becoming addicted to prescription opioid painkillers.

If you injured your back in a car accident, a slip-and-fall or a work-related incident, you may want to consult an attorney to make sure that your rights are preserved and you are fully compensated for the aftermath.