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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To take sick leave with a broken arm

89 replies

Polarbearflavour · 10/12/2017 19:53

Long story but I’ve fractured a bone in my arm...cast on. I also have a sick note.

I work in an office in a non manual role but I’m in lots of pain and can’t really get dressed.

AIBU for taking sick leave? A couple of people have said I should go to work Confused

OP posts:
Dumbledoresgirl · 10/12/2017 19:55

If you are in pain, you are entitled to take sick leave.

But I do wonder why you are in pain. You really shouldn't be now you have the cast on.

MyBrilliantDisguise · 10/12/2017 19:56

Take no notice of those people. I always find they're the first to be off, because their situation is always "different" to everyone else's.

PavlovianLunge · 10/12/2017 19:56

YANBU.

I broke my collarbone some years ago, no cast, but it hurt. Under pressure from work, I went back too soon and lasted half a day before going home in a lot of pain.

You have a sick note; use it, stay home and rest. 🍇

ILoveMyMonkey · 10/12/2017 19:57

You have a sick note so use it. You won't get any thanks for going in and you'll just kick yourself for being in pain.

YellowMakesMeSmile · 10/12/2017 19:57

If the cast is on and you have painkillers then there should be no reason to not go into work.

Children are expected to still attend school with broken limbs and it would be easier for an adult.

steppemum · 10/12/2017 19:57

If you have just done it, and it is painful, then it is not unreasonabel to take time off.

Also, if you drive to work (for example) and there isn't a realistic alternative, then you should be able to sign off.

I know someone who broke their ankle, he drove to work, couldn't drive, taxi too far/expensive. He worked from home, he was a university lecturer, he did some skype sessions with students and he had their exams couriered to him to mark, but basically he was off for the whoel 6-8 weeks.

Cheby · 10/12/2017 19:58

My broken leg was really painful for at least a week after I did it. Bone pain is bad! It doesn’t miraculously disappear when they put a cast on.

Start with a few days off OP, and see how you go from there. You also need to be careful not to get knocked or bumped into on public transport.

SunnySkiesSleepsintheMorning · 10/12/2017 19:59

You’re in pain, you’re sick. Rest up and take care.

Original poster
Polarbearflavour · 10/12/2017 20:01

I have previously fractured a foot bone and had 6 weeks off as I couldn’t physically get down my house stairs, get on the tube and then get up the stairs at the office.

That really hurt too! I slept most of the day.

In other jobs, employees were told to take sick leave as the company could not have them at work for liability/insurance purposes?!

I can’t even get my bra on or top on at the moment and DP is working elsewhere this week.

OP posts:
TheOtherClass · 10/12/2017 20:03

It's absolutely impossible for anyone to know unless they are you or someone close. A break in your arm might be something simple or might be something really serious 🤷🏻‍♀️

If you aren't sure could you give it a try and see how it goes.

steppemum · 10/12/2017 20:04

But I do wonder why you are in pain. You really shouldn't be now you have the cast on
when I broke my ankle it was very painful for the first 2 weeks. After that it settled down, and I would have been fine to work, but for those first 2 weeks, I was not fit for anything.

RadioGaGoo · 10/12/2017 20:04

When I was younger I had a plaster cast and my mother had to fight the school to let me attend. A health and safety hazard apparently.

DancingLedge · 10/12/2017 20:04

Some people have had relatively minor fractures, which settle reasonably quickly in a cast.

This enables them to inform the rest of us that we're just slackers if we can't manage everyday life for a while, are in considerable pain, are in more pain if we travel on any kind of transport, or even just move about too much.
You know what's going on for you, you know what would be reasonable. They really, really don't.

DD, at primary school , thought they were joking when a girl returned to school the very next day, arm in a cast. It was not a problem for that girl. Her sibling had had 2 weeks off, which was entirely appropriate for him. Completely different fracture.

TheOtherClass · 10/12/2017 20:07

It a bit odd that more than one person has said this to you. Did you ask them what they thought or was it unsolicited?

Dumbledoresgirl · 10/12/2017 20:08

Ok, I accept other people's eexperience with pain. I only said what I did because I have broken my arm and felt no pain once the cast was on. My ds has broken his arm 3 times, first time he needed an op and a plate, but he was also painfree once he had a cast on. I was just worried for you that your arm might have needed more treatment.

Katescurios · 10/12/2017 20:12

I broke my dominant hand in October, I had a week off but should have taken longer. I had to have a screw put in and then a cast on, the swelling, stitches and the break all hurt a lot! I still have swelling in my ring finger and hand as well as ongoing physio and OT.

All the people saying it doesn't hurt were very lucky when they broke their bones. If you hurt then take the time you need.

Cheby · 10/12/2017 20:13

Broken bones in childhood are generally less painful than in adult anyway.

tiggerbounce77 · 10/12/2017 20:16

If you are in pain then take the time off, rest will help you heal. I think it is normal to be in pain for a couple of weeks with a break. Ensure you keep on top of your pain meds and if they aren't working to well you could always pop to your pharmacist for something a little stronger over the counter

ny20005 · 10/12/2017 20:17

I broke my leg just over 2 weeks ago & pain has only just stopped, although it's still very uncomfortable.

If you can't get dressed & are in pain, stay at home till you recover.

You don't have to be off the whole time your in cast but at least till you're pain free & can manage a bit better

LakieLady · 10/12/2017 20:19

When I broke my wrist, I couldn't do up any of my clothes with one hand and really struggled to pull up my knickers.

I was off sick the whole 6 weeks I was in a cast. I thought that was preferable to getting someone to help me with my drawers every time I went for a wee.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 10/12/2017 20:21

If you have a sick note will works insurance cover you? My experience is they don’t like staff in with sick notes for that reason.

Ontheboardwalk · 10/12/2017 20:22

Take the time off, you’ve been signed off for a reason.

No one will remember you rushing to go back in with pain a month or so down the line but you will prob still be in pain for not taking it easy and resting.

As with your foot you’ll prob be sleepy during the day and wide awake with aches and pains during the night. You won’t be fit for work for a good few weeks.

Squeakymoo · 10/12/2017 20:23

if you have a sick certificate signed by a doctor, you would need a fit for work certificate also signed by a doctor before you could work during the dates stated on the sick certificate

Slartybartfast · 10/12/2017 20:24

if you are on strong pain killers you wont be able to work. i dont see why you should work if you are on pain killers with a broken arm
see your GP for a note or ask your orthopaedic surgeon

kaytee87 · 10/12/2017 20:24

Stay off for the length of your sick line. A responsible workplace should not have you in if you've been signed off work anyway.