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.

I think you need to go straight to minor injuries as your ankle might be broken and the only way to know if it's a fracture, as opposed to a sprain, is to get it x-rayed.

A man wouldn’t come in and would be in bed for a week resting the sprain!

People saying "toughen up" and "it's only a sprain, take some painkillers" clearly don't have any training in anatomy (I do, I was trained & qualified to deal with sports injuries).

Soldiering through is the worst thing you can do with a sprain, as a pp said it needs ice and elevation above the hips. I don't know of any office where you can work like that, and even if you do that at home you'll probably end up with a bad back as well.

Pain is there for a damned good reason - we feel pain as a warning to take care of an injury. Walking about on a bad soft tissue injury will not only prolong the healing time but will often make it MUCH worse e.g. partial tears can become full separations in things like tendons & ligaments.

Carry on into the office, don't worry about breaking down in tears because you will still be in shock and will be in a lot of pain, so any decent work mates will only be sympathetic. I would suggest a minor injuries unit rather than full blown A&E as they will be able to assess it and take x-rays, and better either of those than your GP as they will be able to strap it up properly for you and dress any bad wounds whereas the GP may not have the necessary tube grip etc. Also, if it IS broken or there's a chance you'll need to see a clinic, you'll go straight there quicker & easier than via the GP.

Lots of sympathy.

I’m here. No bigger dressings in the first aid kit so I’m stuck with my patchwork job but I don’t think I’m bleeding through!

I still feel really shaky and sick though! I’ve got a banging headache now and just feel all out of sorts

It wasn't my comment that you responded to so it's not me that is 'unkind'.

Maybe the poster's comment could have been worded more sympathetically but you are still providing exactly the same advice! I would also argue that not fulfilling your work contract, probably making your colleagues' days more difficult as they'll have have to cover for her is not particularly kind either unless there is a legitimate reason, (being embarrassed is not a legitimate reason!).

How do you know she'll be fine? Even if you are a medical professional you don't know if she's fit for work. The ankle sounds the worst bit. If it's that bad, do you have a walk y centre near by. If it's so bad you can't walk on it I think you need it looked at.

Ha, what kind of men/people do you know?!

You've twisted your ankle. If you're in a job where you sit all day, put your foot up and keep an eye on it.

Go into work, let them see the state of you and then head to A&E to get an xray.

My sister rolled her ankle and had a similar fall. She tried to push on through for a week but her ankle got so painful, she eventually went to A&E and turns out she'd been walking around with a hairline fracture! It's really common apparently, you think you've just sprained it but there's actually a tiny break.

It's a real shock to the system to go down like that. Have a cup of tea and a couple of biscuits and then get yourself to hospital.

I really think you would be better at home to rest and recover. People are being really mean on here. It’s ok to go home sick if you’re injured and in pain. You need to rest and elevate the ankle and possibly get it checked out. Don’t be swayed by all the people on here making out you’ve just got a grazed knee and need to go in like a man apparently would?! If you’re injured, you’re injured. That’s an acceptable reason to need a sick day to recover. I would also get a taxi home to limit the walking.

Bless you. Is your manager in? Can you phone them and ask them to pop to your desk? I think you need to go to minor injuries and get that ankle looked at.

You've had a bad fall no wonder you feel shaky.

Just go home. Or ask a colleague to drop you at the nearest A&E if you think it may be broken or have ligament damage.

Honestly, if a colleague came in with this and was going to spend all day wincing in pain and making a song and dance about it, I'd be annoyed.

You're an adult. You're hurt. You won't get a medal for being a brave soldier who dragged themselves into work with blood and bruises.

How far is the bus stop to your workplace?

Don't be ridiculous! Absence levels are much higher for women than men. Men certainly wouldn't call in sick because they tripped! They'd be way too embarrassed.

Just spat my tea out at 'take off your dick' 🤣🤣

Hope you feel better soon OP

You feel sick and shaky as you are in shock OP, but a cup of tea and a sit down will see you feeling much better soon. Sprain or not, you will likely be sore for a while, so I think it depends on your tolerance and where you work.

Personally, I would stick on a plaster, pop some ibuprofen for the swelling and get on, but if you can't do that it doesn't really matter what we think.
I work in local government so sickness absence is tightly monitored, so I wouldn't take sick leave for anything like this, I need that time for when I am actually incapable of doing my desk based job e.g.norovirus but if yours is more lax and you feel comfortable taking time off for minor injuries then you should just do it if thats what you are wanting to do.

My god… they’ve just done it, they’ve had a shock… you don’t know if a sprained ankle and a fail are a reason to miss work not .. I’m SO glad I don’t know you in person

Tad ott!

You speak for all men?

OP this is mumsnet, where the most important thing ever is WORK! You must always WORK! regardless of what state you're in physically, mentally, emotionally or even whether it makes financial sense for you to do so or not.
Those of us who live in the real world would say, go in, have a cry, let your colleagues look after you and assess if you need a&e. If your ankle is swelling that badly you may well do.
Work will manage without you!!

Are you a doctor with special x-ray vision that works over MN's web page? No?
Then don't call people ridiculous for being in a lot of pain after an accident.

OP, if in that much pain then go home. If it doesn't improve slightly with ice/anti-inflammatories then see if can get to minor injuries/GP.

The Op started the thread asking people what she should do!

That’s an appalling generalisation.

Another doctor here?
How do you know she's not broken anything? And swelling should be cared for much better than going to work, unless work has ice packs and a way to keep her foot elevated.

Just because you would work through this pain/injury and ignore it because you work for a bully employer doesn't mean that everyone should.

Yes, and it's perfectly fine to give an opinion but to belittle people isn't. Can you not see the difference?