Being off sick from work...

samsam89

Im 24 and I work for a particular upmarket supermarket partnership and have been diagnosed with Frozen Shoulder. I've been off work for 5 weeks with this condition now and have received 2 bouts of Physio. I can not move my left shoulder without excruciating pain.

I haven't improved whatsoever and my sick note runs out tomorrow. The soonest I can get another appointment to see the GP is Thursday.

I've been referred to a specialist at the hospital as my problem is more specialised than the normal Physio is qualified to deal with.

Work are encouraging me to come back, and I was told to "tell your doctor that you can use your right arm". I've also just been told that my company sick pay runs out in 3 weeks so I should be thinking about coming back to work "even if you just sit in a chair in the office".

I'm extremely bored and limited at home and want to be back at work but I'm apprehensive about going back to work too soon, especially while this problem is still ongoing.

I hate health and safety with a passion, but several people have said if I only have the use of one arm then I present a health and safety risk and might potentially not be covered if an accident were to occur.

I feel bad for having time off as they're understaffed as it is and all I seem to hear about is how they're struggling etc and need me back (I'm a full time specialist).

Should I feel bad for being signed off? And are they within their rights to encourage me to come back to work at this extent?

Just needed to vent a little in this post more than anything.

Thanks.

theoretica

Ask your HR about the insurance issue- I would bet it is not a problem. Amputees work after all!

Teresa_Green

Hello Sam, don't go back to work just yet, see your Doctor on Thursday, explain what you have said in your post and take their advice.

This is the kind of situation the new (ish! as it was introduced three years ago now) Fit Notes are designed for because they concentrate on what you can do. There are options on the form when someone "may be fit for work" and boxes for the doctor to tick to indicate your needs plus a box to write in for anything else.

It is then up to your work to decide if they can accomodate your current abilities and if not they must consider you as if the fit note said you are "not fit for work". It is their decision, their insurance and their risk, the employer has a duty of care to you at work.

Just a thought but if your shoulder hurts so much, how would you get to work - can you drive? Are you going out of the house at all at the moment? What pain relief medication have you been given? Perhaps you could also ask the Dr to review that at your next appointment?

bap98189

samsam89 wrote: »

I hate health and safety with a passion, but several people have said if I only have the use of one arm then I present a health and safety risk and might potentially not be covered if an accident were to occur.

Who exactly told you this? Assuming you are not driving the delivery van then nobody who knows anything about Health & Safety I am willing to bet.

OllysMum_2

I had frozen shoulder for a very long 18 months. I found the exercises the physio gave me did help, although some times the pain was too great to do them. You have my sympathy.

As your sick pay is about to run out, and unless you have another income stream, I'd suggest you talk to your work about what you CAN do. I did find that constant movement helped (my pain was much worse during the night and in the morning). I couldn't drive at times, and sitting on a shoogly bus was torture. However, I had to get to work. If you work for who I think you do, they'll do their best to accommodate you.

(Can't see how it's an H&S issue, unless you are forced to do something that will knowingly aggravate the condition, or you are operating dangerous machinery and your competence is compromised. )

samsam89

It is possible to drive but it is very painful when changing gear/turning the wheel/even indicating etc so I tend to only drive when completely necessary.

The doctor is calling me this afternoon to discuss my condition and look at the next potential step. I'm not too worried about the sick pay aspect as I'm financially in pretty good shape. It's more the fact that I want to get back and start making progress.

I live around 15miles from work and there is no bus service so I'm reluctant to mention that to the doctor!

The department I work on is a manually intensive one and requires persistent heavy lifting which is why the doctors have signed me off.

The pain is worsening which makes me think the doctor wont let me back until I've seen the specialist as its not 100% clear and it could be fractured. However I don't want to be taking so much time off as it looks bad and I feel guilty!

My concern about going back to work is that the last time someone came back on light/restricted duties they caused themselves greater injury through doing things they thought they were capable of doing.

I'm caught between taking care if myself and giving myself optimum chance of recovery, and going to work because I feel bad and don't want to mess anyone around!

:undecided:undecided