Work and health

Carol52 · 2025-01-02T20:58:58+00:00

Hi I am 52 Went ice skating st Christmas fell and fractured my ribs.cant sleep move etc without pain, duvet on y ok back to work on Monday but I cant even drive without pain or sit. Worried anything work dr will gives sick note but dont know what to do. Manager is off as well she has been I. Hospital with flu do we are down with staff but I just don't think I will be able to manage in school . Any advice

Kaleidoscopic101 · 02/01/2025 21:27

You've got to call in sick and get a drs note and heal...you can't worry about work! Certainly shouldn't drive. If you work in a school likely have a good sickness policy.

TheOliveFinch · 03/01/2025 16:00

I broke some ribs 3 months ago and was in a lot of pain and unable to move comfortably for a number of weeks , I would have thought you are going to need to be signed off work for a while. I did find a tens machine very good for helping with the pain after the first week or so as long as the skin isn’t too bruised and tender over the area of the fractures

Original poster

Carol52 · 03/01/2025 23:33

TheOliveFinch · 03/01/2025 16:00

I broke some ribs 3 months ago and was in a lot of pain and unable to move comfortably for a number of weeks , I would have thought you are going to need to be signed off work for a while. I did find a tens machine very good for helping with the pain after the first week or so as long as the skin isn’t too bruised and tender over the area of the fractures

Thank you for your message. The doctor is worried I may be getting a heating section can I ask how did you get comfortable I can't sleep . He has told me Tkwdo coughing to stop my lungs getting congested any advice

OP posts:

Original poster

Carol52 · 03/01/2025 23:34

TheOliveFinch · 03/01/2025 16:00

I broke some ribs 3 months ago and was in a lot of pain and unable to move comfortably for a number of weeks , I would have thought you are going to need to be signed off work for a while. I did find a tens machine very good for helping with the pain after the first week or so as long as the skin isn’t too bruised and tender over the area of the fractures

Sorry I meant to write chest infection

OP posts:

TheOliveFinch · 04/01/2025 09:00

@Carol52 to be honest my sleep was terrible at first, the best position was lying on my uninjured side but the slightest movement was painful and would wake me up. Coughing also really hurts but if you hold a pillow against the ribs to support them when you cough it isn’t so bad and it’s important to try and breathe deeply as well , hope you feel better soon.

Original poster

Carol52 · 04/01/2025 10:48

TheOliveFinch · 04/01/2025 09:00

@Carol52 to be honest my sleep was terrible at first, the best position was lying on my uninjured side but the slightest movement was painful and would wake me up. Coughing also really hurts but if you hold a pillow against the ribs to support them when you cough it isn’t so bad and it’s important to try and breathe deeply as well , hope you feel better soon.

Thank I am finding sitting more upright helps. It is both side of my ribs . I fell full on my chest.

OP posts:

TheOliveFinch · 04/01/2025 14:43

That is really tough if you’ve broken ribs both sides, I did start to feel much more comfortable after about 3 weeks but it was a miserable time and I didn’t find normal painkillers helped much I was offered codeine but don’t tolerate that very well