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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder why doctor would be certify someone as unfit for any work with just a sprained ankle?

212 replies

Trevorsarse · 14/08/2021 19:42

Someone my dh works with has been off with a sprained ankle for three weeks. Happened on the last day of his holiday. He has just sent in his fit note (very late) and it says he is not fit for work. He does the same job as my dh, some work on their feet but everyone does plenty of desk work too. So, he could easily just do all the desk bits and other people do all the walking/standing bits. Apparently the boss would be happy to have him do shorter/less hours and take longer breaks too but the guy has said he's not capable as he needs to rest.
It's really effecting their work because there are other people off on holiday on their small team so its putting them under loads of pressure.
I'm just wondering why the doctor signed off as completely unable to work on the grounds of a sprained ankle because surely there is work that he can do? When I sprained mine (and it was bad as I ended up needing an operation on it) I just had 4 days off and then went back to work on my crutches with my colleagues helping me out fetching stuff etc. Never thought to get signed off for over 3 weeks! Am I the mug here?

OP posts:
FeatheredHope · 14/08/2021 21:41

Just gonna say it again, it’s none of your or your husband’s business.

Em8725 · 14/08/2021 21:44

A doctor signed my husband off for a knee sprain. He couldn’t drive his van because it’s a manual. What else could he do? No one could pick him up, he tried and couldn’t climb in or out (transit type). What if this man is the same? It’s not really any of your business or your husbands really.

Original poster
Trevorsarse · 14/08/2021 21:44

Like I have said, the company is under pressure and has been since the pandemic, they were shut down and lost a huge amount if money. It ws not mis-management and compared to many in the industry, they've bounced back really well so i'd say it was actually pretty well managed but has really suffered due to pandemic/brexit etc. The guy who runs it seems pretty decent and and looks after his employees well.

I love people saying I should mind my own business and why am I interested in my Dh's work situation when they are the ones spending their saturday evenings posting to someone they don't know, about someone else they don't know, working at a company they don't know! At least I have some (negligible) real life investment.
We all are interested in talking/thinking/posting about these sorts of things that is why we are on an internet forum which is basically all the same gossipy shit. In the same way I am enjoying judging this guy, you are enjoying judging me for judging him.

OP posts:
MereDintofPandiculation · 14/08/2021 21:45

I work with someone who had keyhole, day surgery. In and out in a few hours; nothing even found (it was essentially exploratory). That she got a doctor to sign her off for a fortnight was pretty odd; when she managed to get him to do another two weeks after that, my jaw pretty much hit the floor. Seriously? "Keyhole" only refers to the way they get in - one small hole for each instrument and a bigger hole for the camera. They can still do an awful lot of messing around once they're inside, and all that has to heal. You will be in pain, and you will be feeling odd following the GA. You may be in and out in a day, you'd be incredibly lucky to be able to do anything the next day, and back to work in a fortnight or even a month sounds perfectly reasonable.

Original poster
Trevorsarse · 14/08/2021 21:46

@ohidoliketobe great thread this would be
AIBU?
yes
Ok see ya.

Mumsnet closed down in a matter of days...

OP posts:
Longdistance · 14/08/2021 21:49

The Dr (a medical professional) has signed him off. None of your damned business. He clearly need to rest at HOME as he may aggravate it by moving around at work.

Itwontstopraining · 14/08/2021 21:53

Op your husband a business isn't a successful business if it can't accommodate people being off sick.

Fwiw you can't do desk work with a sprained ankle. The more you have your foot on the floor (ie sat at a desk) the longer you'll have swelling, which means more pain and a longer time immobile.

I hope if you ever have an injury/chronic illness that you have a more understanding boss.

Crinkle77 · 14/08/2021 21:53

I badly sprained my ankle a few years ago. The swelling was really bad and it was filled with fluid. The hossy told me to keep it elevated above my hip I couldn't do that in work. It just wasn't practical.

RaginaPhalange · 14/08/2021 21:54

It's none of your business really. Unfortunately shit happens and people need to take time off work and think about their health first. He could be taking the piss like he's said in the WhatsApp group but he could just be saying that to make himself look good. I get the frustration when someone is off and there's lots going on, that happens and will continue to.
I broke my foot the day I was supposed to go back from mat leave with my ds but turns out I had to have another 6 weeks off due to the nature of my job I couldn't work from home or get there and back.

Thomasina79 · 14/08/2021 21:57

I twisted my ankle so badly once it was more painful than a broken ankle. I went to work when I should have rested it. It remained very weak and unstable because of this. I subsequently suffered a broken ankle because of the weakness and was off work for two months. I too could not use crutches.

The mans GP signed him off. That is all that matters

England101 · 14/08/2021 21:58

TBH, they probably had a telephone consultation or even put a request online and it was automatically given. This will probably continue until the GP is required to see him face to face. Then he’ll go to occupational health who will carry out a return to work.

There are different grades of sprains from mild to severe. And people respond to pain/differently. But they’re people who take a EVERY opportunity to take time off! ( you can bet that if he was self employed he would have gone back to work) All I can say Is in my experience this behaviour isn’t forgotten and may come to bite him in the bum when he wants a promotion or pay rise etc

HunterGatherer · 14/08/2021 22:00

You are outrageous. It is between him and his Dr and you have no right to judge.

LumpyandBumps · 14/08/2021 22:01

I don’t know why but this post took me back many years to when I worked for what was then called the DHSS.
A clearly frustrated GP, having been asked for many ‘ sick notes’ by a long term customer, for a variety of minor ailments, recorded his diagnosis as ‘pendulum plumbocity’ 😊

Alcemeg · 14/08/2021 22:04

I know it sounds like a brilliant skyve, but I was once signed off work for 2 weeks with a sprained wrist. I couldn't believe my luck! I queried it with the specialist (surely I could at least answer the phone?), but they insisted I mustn't even attempt it. Apparently absolute rest was required or I ran the risk of more long-term damage.

Probably the happiest memory of my entire working life!

I suppose the thing is that in a work situation you can't just guarantee you'll just sit there not moving.

Alcemeg · 14/08/2021 22:07

In the same way I am enjoying judging this guy, you are enjoying judging me for judging him.

Probably the deepest thing I've read on MN, nice one OP 😀

DailyMaui · 14/08/2021 22:09

I broke my wrist REALLY badly. I was signed off work for 5 weeks. The pain was excruciating.

Work colleagues were also like you and a bit Hmm

When I returned after 5 weeks the fuckers had cleared my desk.

i have never forgotten nor forgiven.

Sit down, this is none of your business. And perhaps suggest your husband has empathy rather than suspicion.

IveGotASongThatllGetOnYNerves · 14/08/2021 22:17

You don't need to understand it.
His GP has assessed him as needing time off. End of story.
The fact that some others would crawl over broken glass then up and over a mountain of salt to get to their job is neither here nor there.

grapewine · 14/08/2021 22:17

Sit down, this is none of your business. And perhaps suggest your husband has empathy rather than suspicion.

Exactly this. I'd hate to have a colleague like him.

Gonewiththegin · 14/08/2021 22:23

Quite frankly it is none of your business and your opinion on the situation is irrelevant.

XenoBitch · 14/08/2021 22:25

Your DH is BVU to even be discussing it with you, and YABU for wondering about it. This chap's doctor signed him off. End of discussion.

MintMatchmaker · 14/08/2021 22:32

How do you know the man doesn't have something else other than a sprained ankle. If he knows that he works in a gossipy workplace then he may choose not to share the entire story.

A medical professional has signed him off work, that should be accepted. It is not up to those less qualified and without full knowledge of the situation to decide that the doctor is wrong.

Feelingmardy · 14/08/2021 22:39

Not all sprains are the same. Some are much more severe and sometimes you need to keep your leg up and are taking pain meds that make it impossible to properly think

a8mint · 14/08/2021 22:39

1 How does he get to work?
2 Maybe he needs to keep it elevated?

Original poster
Trevorsarse · 14/08/2021 22:52

He gets picked up by team mate for work as he only lives round the corner so he doesn’t drive himself.
When I did my leg I managed to keep it elevated very well while at my desk, just popped a stool and a cushion under it. I am sure going back to work fast didn’t cause me any probs. Dr had said at first a&e assessment that op was fairly definite and in fact at later appointments they were surprised i’d not had more trouble with it considering the damage.

OP posts:
rubbletrouble · 14/08/2021 22:54

The guy has been signed off as that is what is required to safely get him back to work. End of.

Now the nice boss has the timeframes to work with (and not try and get sick guy to work from home) he can arrange for temp staff to come in and take the pressure off the staff for the few weeks ??