To take sick leave with a broken arm

[Polarbearflavour]

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

If you are in pain, don't go in. If it is feeling better and you feel like you can work next week then go in then. If you are in pain/on painkillers you are more likely to make mistakes. Also, I get really tired when I am in pain and randomly fall asleep; snoring and drooling at your desk is not professional

Please stay off. Those who say you should work should mind their own. I fractured my elbow a couple of years ago and felt so guilty about being off (office job - massive audit going on) but took the time instructed by GP and I'm so glad I did. I was so off my face on painkillers, tired, emotional, and couldn't wash or dress myself. I took my sling off to go to physio (trying to keep it mobile) but got shouted at by physiotherapist to get it back on! Soooo, listen to yourself and experts.

I broke my arm when DS1 was 11months old. DH was allowed 2 days off and then we were left to it. We had no family support as a Forces family. Fortunately it was my left arm and I’m right handed.

I broke it again this Summer. I knew I’d hurt it but thought it was sprained so I didn’t seek medical attention for 6 weeks and I only went then because it was getting on my nerves.

We can’t tell if YABU because things affect people differently.

Some breaks are more severe than others, take no notice of what anyone else says. Also if a Dr has signed you off you can't work without having a fit to work note, your workplace wouldn't be insured. In this weather particularly stay at home :-)

Only you know if you are able to- what everyone else thinks is irrelevant, we can't feel what you feel so we can't judge if you should go or not- wether we have broken arms ourselves or not.

You don't have to be signed back to work anymore as an FYI, that went out in 2010.

I would check with your work, in my place of work you aren't allowed to be there if you have a sick note. If you want to go back before the last date on the sick note you have to have a fit to work letter for them

Yanbu.
After breaking her wrist my DM spent a week in bed. She isn't usually one to make a fuss. I think it was the combination of shock and her body healing that took up all her energy.

If your work ask for that it's their policy, sorry should have mentioned that!

More info here if it helps

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/578032/fit-note-guidance-for-employers-and-line-managers.pdf

It really hurts and I’m home alone Feeling sorry for myself.

Oh OP 😿 have you got any more painkillers to take? Would a hot water bottle help?

It's horrid being in pain and alone.

I’ve taken co-codamol and not due any more. I do have friends and family around. Think I might go and stay with my parents.

If there are people who can help then take it! No one wins prizes for suffering in silence when there are other options.

Seriously stay off. I went to work in my office job with tendinitis in my dominant hand. Could barely function, had to get someone else to do my bra clasp, had to go to my sister's for her to wash and brush my hair, etc. Got no thanks for it. Same people gave me hell for taking time off for surgery to remove a potentially cancerous lump.

The poster who said you shouldn't be in pain anymore now that you have a cast on is talking utter bollocks. Of course you can. I certainly was.

Use your sick note. You have it for a reason.

I hope you heal quickly and the pain subsides soon.

Just curious but I don't get how some posters couldn't get dressed with a broken wrist. When I broke my arm (several breaks) it was awkward and slow but i just used my other arm. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I took about three weeks off in total when I broke my wrist. The first week or two I was in agony and the doctor had given me strict instructions to keep it as still as possible, so going to work seemed like a bad idea all round. Plus it was a very computer-based job and I only had one hand to type with, so there wasn’t much point.

After a while I started doing what I could from home and I went in to the office a few times when it made sense to, but really I was pretty much useless for the full six weeks that I had the cast on.

And for those saying you shouldn’t be in pain with a cast on... that’s nonsense. When I got my wrist reset and the cast on I remember saying to the doctor ‘Wow! It doesn’t hurt at all any more, that’s amazing! You fixed it!’ Then she had to gently point out that she had just given me a shitload of morphine Once that wore off I can confirm that it hurt like a motherfucker and I would literally count down the seconds until my next painkiller dose.

Maybe our bodies and injuries weren’t identical to yours, TheOtherClass . What do you need to ‘get’ about it anyway?

Your doctor has deemed you unfit for work. That's all you need to explain to your colleagues. I hope you heal quickly. X

I couldn't put my bra on when I broke my arm because I couldn't move the arm enough to either reach behind to do up the clasp, or put my arm through the strap if I did it up at the front and spun it round.

Sorry meant to tag @TheOtherClass

Forget about your top, can you deal with using the toilet, can you put your work clothes back together to make yourself presentable after a trip to the loo? That's the real litmus test.

I broke my foot a col of years ago. The 5th metatarsal so only a tiny break. It hurt the first few days and i only had a boot not a cast. The boot really did help with the pain. I had half a day off work.

I had follow up with the ortho surgeon a week later. He asked me how long I wanted to be signed off for and was horrified I'd only taken a half day. He was equally horrified that I'd taken four paracetamol and nothing else on the first day. He also tried to tell me it was illegal for me to drive. It was my left foot, I have an automatic with a large footwell where the cast did notnrestrict free movement of my right leg or hinder access to the brake or accelerator. I had cleared it already with DVLC and my insurers. I do think there is not enough emphasis to supporting people to get to work.

I appreciate I was lucky to be able to drive and have a desk job. But it isn't the only time I've had to push back over sick notes when I've been well enough to work.

I had 6 weeks off with a 5th metatarsal fracture!

Moral of the story being we’re all different then? FWIW if your doctor says you’re not safe to drive then that’s it, no matter what you’ve pre-cleared with your insurers or DVLA, your doctor’s advice will supercede that.