How long off work with broken toe?

[turkishly]

Hi there.
I broke my toe just over four weeks ago. Hospital signed me off sick for a month. It is still hurting quite a bit and swollen (though healing normally). I can only weqr ine specific pair of shoes for ut to feel ok.
I work in a busy a and e dept and I dont think im fit to go back and walk on it for hours.
Any thoughts? Or am I being a wimp. Im thinking should be a least 6weeks before feels ok. Though hospital said may take few months to feel normal.

OP, I admire the work that you do. And I know that I'd find it very difficult to do such long, physical shifts. The NHS must be a very frustrating place to work right now, and it probably feels pretty thankless.

If your Doc signed you off for 4 weeks, then he/she obviously thinks it a reasonable time for you to heal. If you don't feel fully fit to return to work then go back to your doc.

But I and other posters might have a bit more sympathy and understanding if you'd have indicated any inclination to speaking with Occupational Health to discuss other possible working options while your foot heals. You seem to be viewing this time off as a break for work rather than as time for your toe to heal. Your posts come across as though you 'are making the most of it', rather than feeling the need to get back to what you are paid to do. This was evident when you said that you'd probably have gone back if you weren't receiving full sick pay.

I hope your toe is soon fully mended and that when you go back to work you are refreshed from the break and ready to do battle again.

No doubt you will come back in an hour having totally milked it at the GP and conned another week or two off. But you'll actually tell us, you never said a word and he could see your agony and just signed you off without you even opening your mouth.

I bet your poor colleagues who are picking up the slack left by your absence are saying exactly the same as we have.

The problem with milking non-injuries like this is there's no goodwill left if you genuinely do need 6 weeks off for something awful.

Nope I haven't worked 30 years without a day off, I'm not old enough to have worked that long

Wow. That's loads of time off!
For a toe I'd strap it up, wear some sturdy shoes caps with some padding inside and take some painkillers the day afterwards not 4 weeks later

I've worked for 20 years.
In that time I've had 1.5 days off for conjunctivitis (not allowed in), 1 day for mastitis and 2 days for sickness.
Have had to take more days off due to children being ill but always do my utmost to minimise disruption.
Currently have severe tendonitis in my knee and expect I could get signed off for that but wouldn't dream of it.

You really are charming OP and very aggressive.
Look... only you know whether you really deserve 4-6 weeks off and by your very enthusiastic defence I think you probably know you have taken the piss.

Whats with everyone going back earlier than recommended on light duries or a different job? Where does it end? How about coming back early off mat leave as long as a sitting down job and maybe bring the baby in so u can feed?certain things need a recovery time.
Its a challenge on here to see who can beat it.

Certain things do need recovery time - you are absolutely right. And for a toe that's around a couple of days a week at most.

I took just 6 weeks maternity leave both times. 9 months off each time would have been laughable, especially as two close in age so would have basically been 18 months back to back.

Working for 30 years in a tough job doesn't make you entitled to swing the lead when you do have an injury. That said, I can totally understand why you'd not be back to work straight away but a month is bonkers. I'm afraid I have no faith in GPs and the fit note culture. They sign on the dotted line and sadly, don't have the time to work through the barriers to continuing employment.

Whilst I think a month is excessive, there does seem to be some competitive presenteeism on this thread.

6 weeks maternity leave for me. It was fine OP.

OP if you are right WHY in the name of God did you ask here.

I.dont know why I asked initially. I guess its as it was taking a bit longer to heal than I expected. Although I suppose I didnt know what to expect. Anyhow, huge mistake as its turned into a competition over who returned to.work the fastest with the worst injury.
Now I dont give a hoot what my colleagues say behind my back. That would just go to show that they dont know me.well. anyone who does know me would be more likely to say 'wow its not like turkish to be off'.
They are plenty of people I do know who DO take the piss. So ive absolutely no need to feel guilty.
Great that all you posters are so loyal to your employer that you would and do,drag yourself in regardless. Maybe you will be appreciated down the line. I sure as hell wont be. So one episode of sickness to me is nowt basically.
And my colleagues are just that, colleagues. Not mates. I struggle to think of anyone who would come off sick early just to help ME! You clearly dont get it.
And one day off wandering for mastitis? Really? Could you have stuck a cabbage leaf in your bra and got on with it. Just like me strapping up my foot in a sturdy shoe surely.
And ive come.across as agressive? Honestly? Not as offensive as saying I have munchausens! Lol

And ive come.across as agressive?Honestly?

Well, having read parts of your posts, such as...

You're talking shit!

Sorry, one word for you-prat.

Why the fuck

I'd have to say...yes.

In many jobs you might get sick leave but your over stretched colleagues would be covering parts of your job and other parts just wouldn't get done - you'd just have to catch up when you got back.

Equally many jobs aren't as physically demanding as nursing.

Redlock
Funny how you are taking my 'aggressive' comments out of context and in isolation.
Posters Saying that I cant string a sentence along, that I have munchausens (the best).or that im.lazy are I'm guessing, okay?

OK.... to me it comes across like this. You have huge resentment about your job, about colleagues milking it for depression or whatever and it's now your chance to have time off and you have decided to go for that for all it's worth. From what you have said, I don't think it's about the toe. I think it's about your colleagues, your manager, you not feeling valued, there is a lot of resentment from you about all of this and your injury is somewhat irrelevant. And your thread title leads me to believe you are asking "how long can I get off for this".

You haven't really talked about the injured toe. Can you walk or hobble? Are you in pain? How mobile are you and could you possibly go back to work in a phased return?

In answer to your question, I've worked for decades and only had the odd day off here and there with flu, D&V etc but I've been lucky in that I've never had an injury and I always get this huge guilt thing about my colleagues being landed with extra so I suppose I am a 'struggle in unless it's completely impossible' type person.

My previously healed broken toe has started hurting again...I blame this thread

I am surprised that OP wasn't sent to Occupational Health early on, and alternative working arrangements discussed is the case in my local NHS Trust. Certainly when I was a Ward Staff Nurse and broke my ankle after two or three weeks I was offered office-based word where I could keep my leg elevated.
I'm sure that when I broke my big toe and it was pinned I was only off for a couple of weeks too, just wore a 'medical ' shoe.
6 weeks?? I once had a GP who would ask ' How long do you want off'?
I guess because in the NHS on sick pay you get 6 months full pay followed by 6 months half pay there's no incentive to get back a sap, only a conscience, in some circumstances?

Mine has too! And I've broken the same pigging toe twice....