Hurt at Work? How Workers’ Comp Chiropractic Care Works in Hinsdale, IL
Short answer: If you were hurt on the job in Illinois, you generally get to choose your own doctor — including a chiropractor — and your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance pays for reasonable and necessary care related to the injury. At Adisi Health Center in Hinsdale, Dr. Steve Petzel treats work-related back, neck, shoulder, and soft-tissue injuries, accepts workers’ compensation, and handles the paperwork so you can focus on getting back to work safely.
Can I see a chiropractor for a work injury in Illinois?
Yes. Under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act, the employer (through its insurer) pays for medical care that is reasonably required to cure or relieve the effects of a work-related injury. That includes care from a physician or chiropractor you select, within the rules below. (820 ILCS 305/8(a))
You do not need your employer’s approval to choose Dr. Petzel as your treating provider when you are using one of your physician choices. Adisi Health Center accepts workers’ compensation and handles the paperwork. Charges for work-injury care go to the workers’ compensation insurer — not to you as a regular co-pay patient.
This post is general information, not legal advice. Workers’ compensation rules can turn on your specific facts, your employer’s Preferred Provider Program (if any), and whether the claim is accepted. Talk with your employer, the insurer, and — if needed — a workers’ compensation attorney about your situation.
Do I get to choose my doctor for a work injury?
In most Illinois cases, yes — with limits.
The two-choice rule. You may select two treating physicians of your own choosing. Care from each chosen provider — plus anyone they refer you to — counts as one “choice,” not a new choice for every referral. (820 ILCS 305/8(a); IWCC medical FAQ)
Preferred Provider Program (PPP) exception. If your employer had an approved PPP when you were hurt, that network may count as one choice. You can decline the PPP in writing; that opt-out usually uses one choice, leaving one additional choice and that provider’s referral chain. Ask your employer in writing whether a PPP applies. (820 ILCS 305/8(a)(4); 820 ILCS 305/8.1a)
Emergency care does not use up a physician choice. Your employer may suggest a company doctor or require an exam they arrange — that is not the same as forcing them to be your treating provider under the two-choice rules. When in doubt, get PPP notice in writing and talk with counsel before switching providers.
What should I do in the first days after a work injury?
- Get urgent medical care if you need it. Red-flag symptoms (listed below) belong in the ER first.
- Notify your employer as soon as practicable, and within 45 days. Illinois law requires notice of the accident within 45 days. Notice may be oral or written and should include the approximate date and place of the accident. Written notice is smarter for your records. (820 ILCS 305/6(c); IWCC Notice to Employees)
- Ask for the workers’ compensation carrier name and claim number. Your employer is required to provide insurer information. Bring the employer name, carrier, claim number (if assigned), and date of injury to your first visit.
- File a claim on time if you need to. In most cases, an Application for Adjustment of Claim must be filed with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission within three years after the accident (if no compensation was paid) or within two years after the last payment of compensation (if any was paid), whichever is later. (820 ILCS 305/6; IWCC handbook)
- Call for an evaluation. Call Adisi Health Center at (630) 887-1900. We gather your claim information, verify workers’ compensation coverage before your visit when possible, and schedule care promptly.
Waiting to “see if it goes away” is how soft-tissue injuries become months of flare-ups — and how claim documentation gets harder.
What work injuries do we treat in Hinsdale?
Common work injuries we evaluate include:
- Low back and mid-back pain from lifting, twisting, falls, or sitting — back pain treatment
- Sciatica and radiating leg pain — sciatica care
- Neck pain and work-related whiplash — whiplash treatment
- Shoulder and rotator cuff strain from overhead or repetitive work — shoulder pain treatment
- Tendon and soft-tissue problems that linger after a strain
Care may combine chiropractic adjustments, Storz Medical shockwave, LightForce Class IV laser, EMTT, and Winback TECAR when they fit the tissue involved. Adisi’s workers’ compensation page describes these as part of medically necessary work-injury care billed to the WC insurer.
If a vehicle crash is involved, see our car accident guide and personal injury page. Auto and workers’ comp claims follow different rules — ask which path applies.
When should I go to the ER instead of a chiropractor first?
Go to the ER or call 911 first if you have:
- Loss of consciousness, confusion, or a severe headache after a fall or head impact
- Chest pain or shortness of breath
- Progressive weakness, numbness, or inability to walk
- Loss of bowel or bladder control after a back injury
- An open fracture, heavy bleeding, or a deformed joint
- Fever with severe back pain, or pain after high-energy trauma
Chiropractic care is for stable musculoskeletal injuries — not emergencies. Once you are medically cleared, we can evaluate the soft-tissue and joint side of recovery.
What happens at the first workers’ comp visit?
- Report and gather info. Notify your employer, then call (630) 887-1900 with employer name, WC carrier, claim number (if any), and date of injury.
- Comprehensive evaluation. Dr. Petzel performs a history, orthopedic and neurological exam, and spinal analysis (x-rays when appropriate), documented for your claim.
- Begin treatment. Your care plan starts promptly. You’ll see Dr. Petzel every visit — no rotating providers.
- Documentation. Progress notes and return-to-work status stay clear for your insurer and attorney if you have one.
If the claim is disputed or delayed, Adisi can help connect you with experienced Chicago-area workers’ compensation attorneys. That is a referral option, not legal advice from the clinic.
Serving Hinsdale and neighboring western suburbs
Adisi Health Center is at 534 Chestnut Street, Suite 240, Hinsdale, IL 60521, serving Oak Brook, Burr Ridge, Clarendon Hills, Westmont, Downers Grove, La Grange, Western Springs, and nearby towns.
Looking for a workers’ compensation chiropractor or work injury chiropractor near me? Call (630) 887-1900, schedule an appointment, or contact us.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a referral to see a chiropractor for workers’ comp in Illinois? Usually no. Under the two-choice rules, you select your treating provider. If your employer has a Preferred Provider Program, read the written PPP notice carefully before you choose.
Will I have a co-pay for workers’ compensation treatment at Adisi? For accepted workers’ compensation care related to your work injury, Adisi bills the employer’s WC insurer directly. The clinic’s workers’ compensation page states there are no co-pays, deductibles, or out-of-pocket charges for that related care. If the claim is denied or disputed, payment rules can change — ask before you start.
How soon should I report a work injury in Illinois? As soon as practicable, and not later than 45 days after the accident. (820 ILCS 305/6(c))
How long do I have to file a workers’ compensation claim? In most cases, three years from the accident if no compensation was paid, or two years from the last compensation payment if any was paid — whichever is later. (820 ILCS 305/6)
Can my employer force me to use their company doctor as my treating provider? Your employer may suggest a provider or require an exam they arrange. Under Illinois’s two-choice framework (and any applicable PPP rules), you still retain the physician-selection rights described above. Confirm PPP status in writing if you are unsure.
What should I bring to my first visit? Employer name, workers’ compensation insurance carrier, claim number if assigned, and date of injury. Photo ID and a brief written timeline of how you were hurt also help.
Ready to get evaluated after a work injury? Call Adisi Health Center at (630) 887-1900, or schedule online. Dr. Steve Petzel · 534 Chestnut Street, Suite 240, Hinsdale, IL 60521 · Fax (630) 887-1901 · Workers’ compensation care
