To call in sick?

[iminpain]

I’m on my first day back at work after 10 days annual leave.

I was walking down the road this morning when I rolled my ankle and fell, I have horrific grazes on my knee and elbow, and my ankle is swelling up hugely and is painful even at rest.

AIBU to turn up, explain what’s happened and go home? When I’m cleaned up I could probably work but I’m in so much pain at the moment I feel sick, I have two fresh grazes that are about to bleed through my clothes and I don’t know whether the adrenaline carried me to the bus or if I can walk.

Does your workplace have a first aider and a first aid kit with an ice pack? I would continue going if they do but explain before you work you need first aid, and then assess the situation from there. If it continues swelling or you can't bear weight you need to go to urgent care or a&e

Hopefully we’ll have ice but I’m not sure about a first aider!

Good luck op. Having broken my ankle 3 times when falling & tearing a tendon on another occasion, please consider getting it checked out. 111 would be a good shout.

Why? Being in bed won't make a physical injury better. You either need A&E or go to work. If it isn't serious enough to require medical intervention, you need to toughen up. You have a contract and a responsibility to fulfil it. You're not sick, just take some pain killers and crack on.

I’d go into work and get help! They may send you home in a taxi or let you sit with your foot up.

Don’t take your shoe off - you won’t get it back on if it swells that badly.

Even if there isn't a first aider hopefully the first aid kit will have plasters and something to strap up your ankle

Do you have painkillers?

Because I’m in a lot of pain, shocked and a bit embarrassed!

How is it unkind? You've literally given the same advice, (painkillers, ice etc). Does that make you unkind too? And the whole of the NHS are unkind who would also recommend ice and painkillers?

I’ve sent people home from work that clearly weren’t up to it but I also told them they shouldn’t have come in as they need to look offer their own health.

Not really, a sprained ankle is uncomfortable and will need some over the counter anti inflammatory painkillers ie ibuprofen and maybe some paracetamol, neither of which would effect her ability to work at a desk.

As others have said, use the work aid kit, clean and strap up the grazes, then get on with your day. It sucks falling over, but it’s not really a valid reason to phone in sick and spend a day in bed.

Obviously if you are genuinely concerned that your ankle is broken, that would be different.

I’m mainly concerned about the ankle swelling to be honest, it’s sore!

You can't not go to work because you're embarrassed! Painkillers will sort the pain. You fell over, you haven't been in some kind of major incident that causes proper shock. You really need to toughen up! (Unless you need medical intervention which is entirely different).

Women often claim they are discriminated against. This is a classic example of why that might be the case. Can you imagine a man calling in sick because they fell over and are embarrassed. You're doing attempts at equality no favours.

I’d post pictures of the grazes and blood that’s running down my leg right now but I’d imagine it’ll get deleted.

A man wouldn’t even think twice!

Me too! But only if being at home will be better for them than being at work. If you're embarrassed and hurt a bit, being at home will do no more for your health than being at work.

This. Ime, if a sprain swells straight away, it's a bad one and they tend to get increasingly painful over the first 24-48 hours. (I'm a complete klutz, so have lots of experience of sprains etc.)

As well as ice and elevation, the standard advice includes rest, so I'd only go to work if you're able to sit with it elevated and keep walking on it to the absolute minimum.

Does your office not have water and a first aid kit? I'd hazard a guess that most workplaces are better placed to clean up a wound than most homes.

Exactly! They'd clean up, laugh it off and get stuck into work which is the adult and responsible thing to do.

I thought that all workplaces had to have someone who was first aid trained. I was that person at two jobs.

Has that changed?

Hope you’re ok @iminpain

im not sure it’s an A&E type thing, do you have a minor injuries or urgent care unit you can visit.

I can’t believe how lacking in empathy some people are on here, fucks sake why do you always have to be awful?

Harsh. She literally just fell- when was she meant to get medical attention?! She isn’t acting like a child just by being injured.

OP ignore this poster. I would go to work and elevate your leg and see how your ankle looks. If it’s hurting too much and also you need to clean up all the grazes then go home- maybe see if you can get a lift or a taxi, save getting the bus back. If your ankle is very swollen and you can’t weight bear, consider minor injuries for an x ray. I hope you feel better soon

‘Being absolutely ridiculous’ is judgemental and not factual . Just not a nice way to communicate. It is possible to disagree in a kind and considerate manner.

‘just take a couple of ibuprofen and ice it work” is dismissive and misses the point. Painkillers help but tbey don’t magically heal the joint. None of us know here exactly how bad it is and how much she has to be on her feet at work and whether she will be able to elevate her foot at work but from what tbe OP is saying, it is a very bad sprain. She may need medical attention.

These are some of the reasons why I thought your comment sounded unkind although I appreciate that may have been unintentional.

why are some on here treating this like she's just turned her ankle and grazed her knee ?

if its already swelling its not something you can just "crack on " with

I hope you have managed to get to work and be attended to , and then , get home , you wont be fit for work today

I've sprained my ankle a couple of times OP (active dog walker) and it's incredibly painful for the first few days. Take some ibuprofen and paracetamol, and try to find something to put it up on (an upside down bin works well). A bag of frozen peas won't hurt either as soon as you get home.

Think it depends on the number of staff, but I've always worked in big offices, and have been a FAAW for about 20 years.

Getting ice at work can be a challenge even if you have a canteen; they don't serve drinks beyond tea/coffee/bottles of fizzy drinks, there might not be any ice. At the very least you should elevate it (sit with it up on a chair) and avoid walking. If you can send someone to a pharmacy to get you an ankle support (elasticated tubigrip or neoprene - the latter are better and more adjustable, ) that woukd help.

It can be difficult to tell the difference between a bad sprain and a break without an x-ray, so if someone offers you take you to A&E, it's worth considering.

Sift tissue injuries can take longer to heal than bone breaks. Good luck.

Strongly disagree.