What Makes a Temporary Work Restriction Permanent?

"Temporary" and "permanent" describe work restrictions imposed by a physician on your capacity to work following an injury or illness. The determining factor is time -- can you eventually go back to your old job, or will you need to find another job you can do with these restrictions? Work restrictions are often highly individual and minutely specific.

Temporary Restrictions

• These quantify such things as how many hours you can work, how long you can sit or stand, how much weight you can lift, what positions you may not assume (kneeling, crouching, crawling and so on) and other factors. They apply until your function is fully restored or you reach a stage called "permanent and stationary" (P&S), meaning you are not likely to get much, if any, better.

Permanent Restrictions

• These restrictions apply once you reach maximum medical improvement (MMI), which means much the same as P&S. They may call for minor adjustments in your working conditions (a special chair, more rest periods), but they can mean a change of status in your field from active to sedentary (athlete to sports commentator) or even a whole new career.

Legal Implications

• Determining work restrictions in on-the-job and personal injury cases can involve extensive negotiations involving medical specialists, lawyers and insurance companies to determine whether you are temporarily or permanently disabled, exactly how disabled you are and how you may be compensated for these restrictions, from financial arrangements to vocational retraining.