Aibu to need more time off work?

[Kaylasmum49]

I broke a bone in my elbow 2 weeks ago while on holiday in Turkey. When I got home I went straight to a+e at 5am, as the pain in my arm was excruciating and my fingers were swelling. They x-rayed my arm and told me it was a radial head fracture of my left elbow and pretty much sent me on my way.

I went to my gp to ask for painkillers and she signed me off work for 2 weeks. I'm a checkout assistant which involves heavy lifting, bag packing, repetitive movements etc. I'm left handed and the money drawer is on my left side. While there has been some slight improvement in movement, the pain is still considerable even when my arm is still. I can't lift anything with that hand, open doors, cut up food, dry my hair etc. I struggle to pull my trousers up after going to the toilet. I was told at the hospital that it can take up to 6 weeks to heal properly. I'm concerned that i'm still experiencing so much pain, I can't straighten my arm either and have some tingling in my thumb.

I'm due back at work next week but don't know how i'm going to manage, I want to ask for more time off until I have a better range of movement and less pain, but feel embarrassed and worried that people will think i'm just skiving off. My attendance rate is normally 100% but I still feel guilty.

So AIBU?

I've worked for my company for 27 years with good attendance so maybe I shouldn't feel so guilty.

you definitely don't sound ready, go back to the gp, you don't want to make it worse.

Go back to your GP and ask for another sick note, sounds like you need another 4 weeks at least

Go back to the GP. You don't sound ready yet and are likely to end up lengthening your recovery time, which will end up with probably more time off. It might be worth talking to your company about lighter duties for a few weeks when you do go back. It's only temporary and hopefully you'll mend quickly and be back to your usual routine. Don't feel guilty for needing time to heal.

Thanks for the replies,

I just worry that people will be thinking I should be able to work. I'm sure there will be some at work who will think i'm just chancing my luck.

If it was your leg I would be in plaster ad you would have crutches. Get a sicknote

It would be

You've been there for 27 years!? Call your manager and ask them what they suggest. You could stay off sick for another 2-4 weeks or you could come back on reduced duties (stock room, customer care, etc).

If it's that painful that you can't consider working, go back to your GP and ask them to extend your fit note. (IMK, doctors can only do 2wks at a time so the initial fit note was not saying "you'll be fit in 2wks")

"I'm sure there will be some at work who will think i'm just chancing my luck."

And I'm sure those same people would have no qualms about taking time off if they thought they needed to.

Workplaces are gossip stations. We had one woman off with depression for 4 weeks and the amount of abuse she got behind her back was staggering.

If you are unwell, take time from work. Going back may well lead to further complications and further time off work which helps no one. Never feel guilty for putting yourself first as a healthy employee is a good employee.

Definitely ask for more time off! My friend had the same injury and it is not a fast healer. She had 8 weeks off and then physiotherapy for a while after. And she doesn’t do the type of physical work you do!

Go to the GP and get another note OP. Fuck what your colleagues have to say about it. Nowt to do with them anyway.
If you go back to work before its healed correctly, then you could cause further damage or even long term problems with it, which could lead to further episodes of sickness further down the line.

OP I don't think anyone would expect you back at work two weeks after breaking a bone. It's a pretty clear cut reason for time off! Also it's standard for GPs to write a 2 week sick note initially and for you then to go back and see them for another, it's no indication of how quickly they assumed you'd recover.

Your immediate boss might want you back quickly but the company won't; if you go back before you're fit to work they have to do risk assessments and adjustments and it's all sorts of complications for workplace insurance.

Go back to your GP.

I broke a bone in my wrist earlier this year, and couldn't drive or carry stuff for 6 weeks! If it's still painful after 2 weeks, it sounds like you tore a ligament as well, which takes longer than a bone to heal. I'm a bit surprised that A&E didn't refer you to a fracture clinic. Mine did.

Someone I worked with had 8 weeks off for a broken finger.

You are not fit enough to do your job properly therefore you need another sick note. No argument