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Original poster

Time off work for broken ankle

16 replies

dovaffanculo · 27/10/2013 18:43

I broke my ankle quite badly 9 weeks ago.

I have and an operation and a plastercast .The plastercast was removed 2 weeks ago and I dont have to attend orthopaedics clinic again.I didnt have to have a walking boot or any other support.

I started physiotherapy last week and will attend the ankle clinic 3 days a week until my ankle is moving more freely.
I have a desk bound job with no need to walk around/carry items/climb stairs etc.

How long have others had off work in similar situations? Did you go back to work once physio started - or before? Did you have plenty of time off allowed for physio etc?

OP posts:

ThinkAboutItTomorrow · 27/10/2013 18:47

Less than a week actually off work. Was working as soon as i could hobble.

But all the time i needed for appointments.

dobedobedo · 27/10/2013 18:51

I've broken my shin, ankle and ribs. Only had a day and a half off for my ribs because the painkillers made me too stoned to work. I have a mostly desk job so it wasn't an issue.

jazzcat28 · 27/10/2013 18:55

I broke my foot in 2012. Had 6wks plaster (off work completely) then 6wks plastic boot. Went back to work after about 4wks into wearing the boot. Had almost a year of physio and work treated them like other medical appointments - I went along then went into work. Tried to book appointments on Friday afternoons when not much happens at work. Make sure you and they do a risk assessment - I had a long commute so they hired me an automatic car (very generous I know) and had to make special fire evacuation plans as I couldn't use stairs well.

Original poster

dovaffanculo · 27/10/2013 21:33

Wow - what a mixture of responses .

Kudos to you TAIT and Dobedobedo for only taking the minimum time off.

My GP has signed me off for another 6 weeks from last week and I feel this is excessive. I get full pay up to 6 months of sick leave so thats not a problem for me but I think that I am taking liberties to take all of that time off. But I dont know if I can just say that I feel okay to work and go against what the GP has put.

OP posts:

Delayingtactic · 27/10/2013 21:52

You can go back when you feel ready. A sick note isn't set in stone and most doctors give fairly long ones so that people don't have to traipse back and forth for a new one every two weeks.

3xM · 27/10/2013 21:55

Not broken but badly sprained- I had five weeks off, but I did have a very long commute (driving)and I hated that job, found another one while off sick and handed my notice in on my first day back

demolitionduo · 27/10/2013 22:18

I think what is important is your safety- not only getting to & from work, but in the workplace too.

I broke my knee a few years ago & it was 8 weeks after the plaster came off before I felt safe enough to attempt the travel etc.

I also did a phased return because I was totally exhausted by the whole op & recovery process.

If you do go back 'not fully fit' make sure your employers have a personal evacuation plan in place for you. I worked on the 3rd floor so this involved getting an evac-chair to use should we have needed it in the event of an emergency. If you have Occupational Health at work, they should be able to assist.

fridayfreedom · 27/10/2013 22:23

Just had 6 weeks off for a fractured vertebrae. I was sceptical about how long the consultant signed me off for but he said I needed to take time now to try and avoid problems later.

jazzcat28 · 28/10/2013 10:46

If you get 6 months sick pay and your GP has signed you off I would make the most of it! I only went back when I did because my pay would have dropped down to 50%.

scurryfunge · 28/10/2013 10:51

I had about 6 weeks off initially then came in for a few hours a day to start with. Work were very good- someone always came to pick me up and take me home until I could drive again.Stayed office based until I was fit again. Plenty of time given for physio.

1leggedwobbler · 28/10/2013 10:57

I am currently in plaster having badly broken my fibula & had it put back together with plates & screws. I also completely dislocated my ankle. I work standing behind a shop counter & also as a cleaning lady.

I have been signed off by the hospital for 6 weeks so far. My current note runs out this week when I go back to the hospital to get my plaster cast changed but I'm guessing they will sign me off again. I am desperate to start working again as I get no sick pay so I have had no money coming in for the last few weeks.

The orthapedic commented last time I saw him that if I had a desk job I would be back at work by now but it is not possible for me to stand behind a counter for 4 hours at a time while in plaster so I'm signed off.

PigletJohn · 28/10/2013 11:06

it depends what's broken, and if you have been declared safe to weight bear.

I had a broken talus once and that's a break which is prone to suffer necrosis which can be rather undesirable, I was not allowed to walk on it or drive for several months, though I could get arounbd on crutches. I only fell down the stairs twice.

Depending on how you broke it, you might have soft tissue damage as well which can take a long time to heal. Refusing to follow the rest and exercise routine may leave you with a lifelong limp and pain.

KirstyJC · 28/10/2013 11:15

Did your GP tell you why they signed you off completely? There is likely to be a good reason!

Are you clear about what you can and can't do ie can you weight-bear, drive, sit in position for hours at a time (like a desk) etc.

If you feel you can go back I would make another appointment with your GP and discuss it fully before making a decision to go back against medical advice.

Sometimes you need to rest for a lot longer than you think otherwise you can end up with problems for a long long time. Be patient!

clam · 28/10/2013 11:23

I think it depends on the break and on the type of job you do, including how you would get there; can you drive/walk/take a bus, for instance?Most of us completely underestimate the amount of moving about we do during the day at work, also - even things like how far away the loo is from your work station.
I am a primary school teacher and I broke my tib/fib and ankle about 9.5 months ago. I'm still not taking PE lessons at school. I was off work completely for about 6 weeks, (major op to recover from too) and then on a phased return doing admin for another couple of weeks, going in late and leaving early (dependent upon lifts as I couldn't drive for around 10 weeks). After that, I did full days for a few weeks, but just supporting my class (from a wheeled office chair, and was set up for putting my foot up on a cushioned chair as much as possible. The kids did all my fetching and carrying and were fab . There was another adult in the room at all times while I was on crutches. I did increasing amounts of teaching.
I was back to pretty much full operation (minus the PE and break duties) after 12 weeks.
My school were very understanding and supportive, and they could see that I was keen to return and help out, not sit around at home watching daytime TV and eating cake.

scurryfunge · 29/10/2013 01:07

Clam, your injury sounds pretty much the same as mine. Glad your work has been understanding too.

Martingolden · 20/04/2014 22:50

I had a broken ankle recently and got back to work 3 weeks after surgery thanks to hiring a device called a 'knee scooter' . The device supports the injured ankle being a 4 wheeled scooter. It takes the weight off the good leg" can act as a seat or support for the injured leg, and massively improves mobility. Link to this is knee scooters.com. Rental is about £4 a day. I don' t work for this company, but feel everyone who has this sort of injury should be informed of the availability of these devices.

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