If you’ve ruptured your Achilles how long were you off work?

[RupturedAchilles]

As my name change suggests I’ve ruptured my Achilles. I have to wear a boot for 12 weeks.

I can self cert for a week but I’ll need to contact my GP tomorrow for a fit note.

I have DIY blood thinner injections for 6 weeks and the boot for 12.

I know all injuries and recoveries are different but I just wondered how long people were off for?

I can’t really WFH in my job. If they can lend me a laptop I could do a bit but only a small part of my role. And obviously I can’t get there as I can’t drive.

It’s still very painful as well. Hopefully at some point it will start to hurt less 😖

If you are in the boot for 12 weeks, unless you can get there by other means, probably off work for at least 12 weeks?
Are you able to weight bare when pain allows or are you non-weight baring for 12 weeks?

Are they not operating?

yes I would say while you’re wearing the boot mainly because you can’t get there as you won’t be able to drive. Can you get a bus? If so you could maybe go back in a month if you can weight bare but depends how close any bus stops are, etc.

I could probably get there and back in a taxi in a few weeks once the pain eases but at the moment I’m in a lot of pain. But that’s a lot of expense and no I can’t weight bear at the moment. I’m in the boot 24/7 for 12 weeks.

The consultant said they try not to operate these days. Having the boot for 12 weeks is the less risky option to try and fuse it back together apparently.

The fit note is only if you are not fit to do your job, not because you cant drive to work. My company paid for a taxi for somebody who tried this excuse.

Absolutely.

The issue is transport rather than being unfit to work, so you'll need to figure this out.

Pain is a big issue so you'd be signed off work for quite sometime. Also what is your job? they may suggest you don't move around too much as you want the fusion to do its thing, which it won't if you're moving around at work (check that!) so I'd assume that you'd need to stay home and latterly perhaps phased return with the admin but you can do

No, unfortunately my current issue is being in absolute agony.

When the pain decreases and if you can weight bear, if it's your left foot, and you have an automatic with a spacious footwell you can drive.

When the pain decreases if they send you a laptop, there may be alternative work you can do.

If you are unfit to travel to work, it is legitimate for you to be signed off.

I’d ask for a two week paper (after the initial self cert) and then play it by ear. If you are still in pain after three weeks get another sick paper.

Is there anyone in your office who can give you a lift to work? (When you're ready).

Guy at my work had this injury in 2019, before we had wfh. He was off for the full 12 weeks, our office was on third floor in the city centre there was no way he would manage it in a boot.

He did get a laptop sent to him and could do little bits from home, made himself available by phone but we weren't set up for remote working then so really he was off the full time.

Someone I know ruptured his Achilles last year and had surgery and has just ruptured his other Achilles and is booked in for surgery in a couple of months. They said without surgery he won’t get full lateral movement back in the leg (ankle?). So they said because he’s in his 20s and does a lot of sport they will do the surgery as it’s a better chance of a full recovery and without it he won’t go back to sport.