Well as a few of you know in October last year I injured myself at work, I ruptured my Quadriceps tendon that links the thigh muscles to the kneecap. I was told at the time recovery would take between 9 and 12 months depending upon various factors, everyone heals at different rates. As you can imagine my work are not too pleased at having to pay me whilst I'm not there doing my bit. The physiotherapists this week told me I might be fit enough to do very simple duties in around 6 - 8 weeks, but then today I Had a phone call from the Occupational health nurse dealing with my case on behalf of the company and she told me she used to work as an orthopaedic nurse for 23 years before going into occupational health, and she is writing a letter to my firm recommending it stay off my work for 12 months and then have at least 3 months on light duties in the office. I obviously don't have to stick to her recommendations but she has advised me it's daft to even consider going back before that, it's one of the most serious non life threatening injuries she has ever dealt with and I would be crazy to go back before I'm fit enough to return to light duties. As she said, if i got back then have another injury, even a small one they are regarded as separate times off work and with the conditions of employment I'm working under it could be a sackable offence. So I've now got a lot of thinking to do, do I go back early to get my wages back up, or stick it out until I'm fitter and try surviving on half wages for next 3 months. Then social security for further 3, which is a mere £85 a week, I'm confused. She also told me I'm not taking enough painkillers, trying to survive on pain does more harm than taking paracetamol every 6hrs for a year. Walking when in pain means I don't walk properly and my joints might heal out of place, even by a few millimetres could cause a lifetime of awkwardness once I'm over all of this. Lot more to think about now than the original 6 weeks I was thinking about.
