Going to the gym when signed off work?

[hunge]

DH thinks this is hugely unreasonable and is shocked I even suggested it … surely it isn’t?

If you speak to HR or your line manager then I was mentioned to them that you are working really hard to improve things and following all the advice from dr including physio and going to the gym. Then your not worried about being seen.

@hunge On the one hand, yes it IS a good idea to go in a hot sauna with a bad back, and maybe try some gentle swimming. BUT I struggle to fathom how you can even swim with a slipped disc. DH had this some 2 years back, and he couldn't walk from one side of the room to the other without almost passing out from the pain. I assume you need to drive to the gym? Or walk? I doubt it's on your doorstep. Not being funny, but your pain can't be that bad if you're able to get to the gym and do some swimming.

Sorry, but going to the 'gym' when you're off work with a bad back is not going to look good if you're found out. Even if you only go in the sauna, your workplace is not going to know this, and will assume it's regular gym activity.

context is everything. so you have a bad back and you're going swimming/gentle exercise which you know will help. go for it.

running on treadmill, or lifting heavy weights probably dont.

as an aside, to strengthen your core, have you tried pilates (dont start now, when back is bad...maybe wait a bit...) but worth looking into - it has done wonders for me. admittedly not slipped disk type pain, but general back pain.

Of course it’s fine! It’s an essential part of recovery! Being completely static with a back injury is horrific.

Even then, you might be doing rehab. But that's probably the sort of thing you could do at home unless you want a PT to supervise you to stop you injuring yourself even more!

If I line managed someone who was signed off with a back injury, I wouldn’t be happy to find out they went to the gym I would hope that someone who managed someone with an injury would educate themselves about what person needed to do rather than jumping to conclusions.

Sorry, but going to the 'gym' when you're off work with a bad back is not going to look good if you're found out

so much ignorance on this thread! It's quite shocking.

If people can have physio when they’re off with a physical injury, don’t see why you can’t do your own at the gym and pool. Swimming is fantastic for recuperation. Don’t know what you do but sitting at a desk all day with back issues can make them much worse.

hope you recover soon.

I’m aware. I’m not disputing the swimming being a useful treatment aspect.

I’m wondering how someone gets signed off while being physically able to go to a pool and do anything while there.

I’d been back at work on crutches for weeks before my physio said I could go do exercises in the pool so I could do more of them.

I think it’s fine

Where I work someone was sacked for abusing the sickness policy. Was off 6 months with bad back, said they couldn't even wfh a few hours a day. Said they couldn't even put socks on. They were seen out and about doing activities that they said they weren't physically capable of (driving, bending) . They attempted tribunal and lost. So be careful if what you e told work is at odds with what you're doing.

I think it’s fine as exercise is the best way to recover. I’d speak to my manager and say I’m planning to go to the gym to speed my recovery but I’m concerned people will see me and report me to work knowing I’m signed off. Any normal boss would say, thanks for the heads up, hope it helps and the pain eases.

Done, sorted. people can be really nasty re signed off colleagues - usually because they have to fill the gap you leave so it makes people behave differently to usual.

I always emphasise to people who are signed off sick from work that being unfit for work doesn't mean they need to be confined to their own house. The current advice on management of back pain often includes mobilisation and going to the gym/swimming pool seems reasonable.

It would of course be embarrassing if one of your colleagues saw you doing a vigorous dance class or an hour of HIIT on the treadmill, but otherwise it's nobody else's business and if you feel it's going to help you then you should go.

Yes I would @RedCarsGoFaster. The OP does not mention how long she has been off sick with a 'bad back'. If it has been for a considerable amount of time, I would assume that she is under a process of recovery and treatment and will be advised by medical professionals on what exercises she should be doing in the 'gym' to aid her recovery in order to be able to get back to her job.
Hope you recover soon. TBF other than painkillers there is not much a GP can do for you. You're better off getting a physio appointment as soon as, in order to receive an informed program of recovery and exercise program rather than doing random exercise that might not improve your injury.

Don't you have to give a reason when you call in sick? I've never had a job where you can just say "I'm off sick" without expanding.

Also it should depend, I mean if you had covid, or flu or something I'd be pretty pissed off as a fellow gym goer if you rocked up, let alone a colleague. If someone I worked with was off work with a broken leg but I saw them swimming in the pool without a cast then I'd assume they were lying about not being able to work, yes.

😂No you cannot go to the gym. What a bizarre mindset, can manage to get to the gym but not work.😂

I think it depends very much on what your role is.

If it's office based then surely there are reasonable accommodations that could be made to allow you to work such as an adjustable desk.

Yeah I agree, so IGNORANT to assume that the OP's workplace will be OK with her going tom the GYM when she's written off with a BAD BACK.

Give me fucking strength!

Yeah I agree, so IGNORANT to assume that the OP's workplace will be OK with her going to the GYM when she's written off with a BAD BACK.

Give me fucking strength!

I have a bad back - have had long periods (months at a time on occasion) off work with it. Towards the end of the longest period I ventured out for a walk. Building up a few more yards at a time. If I had been able to swim then I would have been back at work already.

I think the only reason you could do it is if a physio or doc has told you to do something and that they need to know you can can do x before you go back to work.

Bad backs come and go - you never shake them off completely - you need your co-workers support. If they think you're taking the proverbial then you'll loose that.

I'm a senior manager and we do see what's on your sick note. I wouldn't be impressed if someone working for me was unable to attend work but was able to go to the gym it's a huge contradiction and shows that you can get about.

What you should be doing is speaking to your manager about your back problem and working out reasonable adjustments to your work to accommodate your need to move about to aid recovery from your back issue.

Not unreasonable at all, it's helping your recovery, in fact GP's will encourage you to get in the pool and do light exercise. Like you say sitting at home is gonna hinder your recovery.
Your husband is not a Dr so ignore his opinion, its his opinion, his entitled to have one...BUT he's wrong.
I suffer with my back, I go swimming daily as it stops my sciatica & other nerve pain. Also helps strethen my back muscles to help keep my discs in place (i have degeneration of spinal cord issue) as soon as I stop swimming back comes the pain and I'm in agony.

If work ask, you say GP advised you to get in the pool and do light exercise and slowly build. Girl, you don't even need to swim, hold on to the side, float and kick or butterfly your legs ...being weightlessness helps tons.

You tell your old man that you will do you & he do him ...basically butt out 😆

Even with a bad back it depends. I seriously injured my back years ago and go to the gym 3x a week to try and strengthen it as the pain is recurring. However I further injured my back a few weeks ago and couldn't go to the gym until I'd recovered as that injury would have been made worse by it.

I’d be tempted to get in with work first, I’d mention to my manager that I’m going to start using the pool to recover/build strength. Just in case you’re seen. Might work in your favour actually, shows you’re trying to do something about it.

Why have you been signed off work?
What is it about the injury that prevents you either getting to work, or doing the work once there? Is there any work you could do either from your place of work, or from home, with the injury you have?

On the face of it, it doesn't matter if your colleagues know or not, it's immoral to go to the gym if you're signed off work with a physical injury, but not go to work.

It does depend!

If you can go to the gym and could manage work without making the injury worse or impede healing then YABU.