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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:
stevalnamechanger · 14/08/2021 22:55

@IsItWorthTheHassle

I agree with pp.

The GP thought it was a good enough reason for him to be off work. You have no idea of what other stuff is happening or not and the reasons the GP decided he was unfit.

I don’t think any of us, including you or your DH can make a judgement on that. Just trust the GP.

This!
rubbletrouble · 14/08/2021 22:56

@Trevorsarse

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.
You are aware every situation is different so to keep referring back to your experience does not make it any more unreasonable for this guy to be signed off.
Clydesider · 14/08/2021 23:06

You're a judgmental, busybody type, aren't you.

You don't have a clue how this person is affected, either by the injury or the medication he is likely to be taking. Doctors don't sign people off work without good reason. I think its time you started minding your own business.

grapewine · 14/08/2021 23:09

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.

He's not you, and you're not his doctor. The fact that you keep at this - why?

Imnothereforthedrama · 14/08/2021 23:15

@Trevorsarse

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.

I do sometimes feel sorry for some that post on Aibu but not you op . You asked opinion and funny enough said yabu but instead you’d rather bitch about those doing the same as you posting on mumsnet the irony op.
DeflatedGinDrinker · 14/08/2021 23:16

3 weeks for a sprain?! My child had 3 weeks off after 6 hour emergency open surgery. That sounds ridiculous for a sprain.

ChequerBoard · 14/08/2021 23:17

Tell you what OP, why don't you send your email address to all the local GPs and the orthopaedics team at your nearest hospital and tell them to be sure to consult you whenever anyone sprains their ankle as clearly, having sprained your own ankle once, you are the expert?

WhatAShilohPitt · 14/08/2021 23:21

You are spot on with your comment about people asking why you care when they are the ones looking and replying on a forum!

It’s hard to say without knowing the private details of the note. My sprain meant I couldn’t walk properly or drive for months. Sometimes the advice is to properly rest it. You can’t do that if you have to commute.

WhatAShilohPitt · 14/08/2021 23:21

Oops posted too soon. But he should surely be able to do some desk work at home.

Itwontstopraining · 14/08/2021 23:26

OP when you're told to 'keep your leg elevated' it means 'keep your ankle higher than your heart'
Popping your foot on a stool doesn't cut it. I'm sorry you didn't understand your doctor's instructions last time you had them, but your ignorance doesn't qualify you to judge your husband's employee.

Mantlemoose · 14/08/2021 23:35

Some GP's will put something on a line which is true but actually not the full reason they're off work.

melj1213 · 14/08/2021 23:35

YABU - the last time I "sprained" my ankle I actually chipped one of the ankle bones but did more damage to the ligaments and muscles than the bone itself so it was treated as a bad sprain, bandaged up but not casted so I was given a walking boot and crutches

I was told by the doctors that for the first 14 days I was to keep it elevated and do no weight bearing on my foot at all. After that I was told to use the crutches for at least the next 6 weeks, increasing the weight bearing time incrementally.

I work in a supermarket, I was off for 4 weeks because I was not allowed to weight bear for 2 weeks and then it took another 2 weeks before the boredom of house arrest kicked in to make me want to go back to work for me to build up enough energy to be able to manage to do anything other than sitting on the sofa - including mastering my crutches and not getting exhausted from the 2 minute (which became closer to 5 minutes with crutches) walk to the bus stop to just get to work.

Itwontstopraining · 14/08/2021 23:40

Op if you're so confident in your thorough understanding of sprains and rehabilitation, why haven't you offered your services to this guy's GP?

theThreeofWeevils · 14/08/2021 23:55

Your DH is BVU to even be discussing it with you
Yeah, because none of the righteous posters here ever talk about work colleagues' behaviour to their [high-earning, with an outing hobby] spouses. Right. Hmm
Meanwhile, in the real world...

MolyHolyGuacamole · 15/08/2021 09:29

@Trevorsarse

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.
🥇🥇🥇⭐️⭐️⭐️
Alcemeg · 15/08/2021 09:38

@Itwontstopraining

OP when you're told to 'keep your leg elevated' it means 'keep your ankle higher than your heart' Popping your foot on a stool doesn't cut it. I'm sorry you didn't understand your doctor's instructions last time you had them, but your ignorance doesn't qualify you to judge your husband's employee.
@Itwontstopraining

I misread your username as "It won't stop spraining" 😊

LadyJJ · 15/08/2021 09:51

A grade 3 ankle sprain is basically torn ligaments.
So the person will be in a lot of pain and have an unstable joint, probably be in a boot to protect the ankle.
So it might not be 'just a sprain.

tass1960 · 15/08/2021 10:07

I fractured my ankle yesterday - am in a cast and am dreading the phone call to my manager tomorrow. I don't know how long I will need but that will be her first question. I've to elevate my leg as much as possible for 2 weeks - will have various virtual and face to face appointments with fracture clinic too. Im just going to go with what my GP says re sick line. If I feel I can WFH or get into the office (when I can get a lift) further down the line I will do that though.

HavelockVetinari · 15/08/2021 10:15

It might not be just a sprained ankle - it might be MH issues too, but he doesn't want to disclose it. Some GPS will sympathetically put a secondary issue as the main reason.

Or it could be torn ligaments which can be terrible painful.

HavelockVetinari · 15/08/2021 10:17

@tass1960

I fractured my ankle yesterday - am in a cast and am dreading the phone call to my manager tomorrow. I don't know how long I will need but that will be her first question. I've to elevate my leg as much as possible for 2 weeks - will have various virtual and face to face appointments with fracture clinic too. Im just going to go with what my GP says re sick line. If I feel I can WFH or get into the office (when I can get a lift) further down the line I will do that though.
Is it the pain that is stopping you working from home? or something else?
tass1960 · 15/08/2021 10:40

"Is it the pain that is stopping you working from home? or something else?"

It's the pain, the nausea from the painkillers that aren't really working and no sleep (although hopefully that will get better) the fact that I can't sit comfortably for 8 hours at my dining table with my leg up - this is all assumption of course because I only did it yesterday so maybe a few days in I will feel that I can and I will. I know I feel like crap today, I can't walk round the house carrying things. I can't crawl because I skint my other knee when I went down. My arms aren't strong enough to be stable on the crutches (no weight bearing at all on the damaged ankle) but I'm sure that will improve.

Happy to take any tips ...

IamMaz · 15/08/2021 10:42

I tore a ligament in my foot at the end of May which is still causing me issues now, 10 weeks later. I went to the Minor injuries unit and also had to phone them as the swelling wouldn't subside. It is still swollen today.

I was told it came under 'Sprains' as an injury.
So, I can quite understand why he's been signed off.
It's very easy to be judgemental without knowing all the facts.

Peanutsandchilli · 15/08/2021 10:54

Doctors don't just write fit notes because their patient says they need it. They decide that there are good medical grounds to need one before they issue it.

So it's fine and none of your business.

Peanutsandchilli · 15/08/2021 10:55

Oh, and it's alright to say someone could do desk work, but this would require a full occupational health assessment and possibly a change of equipment for them.

SnakesAndRubies · 15/08/2021 10:59

When I was 15 I had a coffee job shop and was called in last minute to cover the whole day alone because someone was on hol and the other girl had called in sick with a 'bruised boob'.

On my way home I saw her walking down the street with her boyfriend looking right as rain.

Next shift with her I had a go at her for pulling a sickie and leaving me to cover.

Reader: four weeks later that young girl gave birth - a pregnancy she had hidden from everyone because she was so worried.

The day I saw her walking down the street - I now realise - she was walking away from the family planning centre.

It was a tough lesson in minding my own fucking business because I never know what's really going on for someone.

The last thing that young girl needed at that time in her life, was flack at work.