I’ve been out of work with a work-related injury for six months. I’ve heard that if I’m not back in four months, I probably won’t make it. My family depends on my income and I have every intention of getting back on the line. But I can’t help but wonder if these statistics are true?

There is some evidence to suggest that the longer a worker is out on disability, the less likely he or she will recover enough to return-to-work. Other factors that seem to predict work status after treatment include gender (females are less likely to get back to work) and age (older patients are more likely to take permanent disability).

Some experts suggest that it is more socially acceptable for women to stay home and not work. With older workers, work fatigue (just plain tired of working or tired of that particular job) may enter into the picture.

Also, older workers may have more degenerative changes that make it harder to get through rehab successfully. Anyone over 50 will probably need more time (longer recovery) but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to get back to work.

Some workers must accept less than their pre-injury work status. In other words, they may reduce their hours from full-time to part-time. Or they may move into a different (modified) position with the same company.

Any of these scenarios may be temporary — in time, with continued work toward full recovery, some workers will manage to return to their desired position full-time. Your motivation to succeed is your strongest asset. Don’t let this one statistic hold you back. Such figures are averages that include people who do better and those who do worse.