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In the past I’ve refused fit notes from the doctor, carried on working regardless but as per other topic I’ve hurt my back, spasms and trapped nerve etc...so far been off a few weeks, feeling better no spasms, aches and pains kept at bay with tablets.
Doctor advised to take the whole time off, and fully recover, although as i never take time off feel a tad guilty...I haven’t been back on the mtb yet but plan to next week to test how the back feels, so would you return to work early or take the rest of the time off??
Debating going back early and back into work as I left hopefully with no pains or staying off getting some biking in and fully recover with no pains. Normally I wouldn’t consider it, but last 4 years had redundancy threat and had to change roles within same company, looks like it’s coming up again this April no confirmed roles gone, I get I’m just a number at work these days, loyalty both sides has been stretched a bit to say the least....
as i never take time off feel a tad guilty…
Well, stop that for a start. If you're not fit to work then you're not fit to work, there's no point being a bloody martyr about it and less point in risking making your back worse. Doctors sign people off work for a reason and it's not because someone wants a free holiday out of it.
And to be brutally honest from what you've just said there it sounds like being made redundant might not actually be a bad thing...
I have been self employed most of my life.
Boy I wish I could have been signed off when I did my back.
Don't go back too early.
Just because it is feeling a bit better, it will still be very weak.
You will be back where you started. Then you will have to take even longer off.
I get the feeling guilty bit for sure.
It is your back.
Don't take any chances with it, let it heal properly.
Enjoy the time instead of feeling guilty.
Dunno about biking.
I am not an expert. Take it very very easy if you do.
Maybe go for a walk instead?
Or a swim? Might that be better? It is supported then.
Depends entirely on your job. Do they offer any phased return or alternatuve duties?
You also have to remember you have a duty to others if you not being fit puts them at risk.
Ultimately though your health is more important, if you return too early and exacerbate your condition you could end up being off longer or worse unable to work.
At the moment it’s redundancy rumours again...I just seem to be in the wrong job each time, saying that in my location 6 of us have all gone through it at least twice in the last 4 years, gone from having a very safe job to one that’s always at risk every 12 months.
My OH tells me just take it off, play the Xbox or get your fitness back on the bike as haven’t been on it since I’ve been off, she has even gone out and got me some heat pads that strap to my back..
I’ve been walking everyday for the past week, dr recommended even in pain better to walk a short distance than nothing, been getting further and further, the cold hasn’t helped tbh its had a negative effect.
Take the time off. I tried to go back early off a sicknote once because I was bored stiff at home and my employer wouldn't let me come back. There reasoning was if a doctor had said I shouldn't be at work then their insurance wouldn't cover me if anything happened whilst I was at work.
How true that is I don't know but I'm sure your employer would rather you took X time off now and came back better rather than X minus a bit now and y time off in the future because you've gubbed your back again.
If a doctor gave one of our guys a note saying not fit for work then they won't be working until that note has exprired or the doctor gives them a new note saying fit for work before then. Depending on nature of the note, they may be offered alternative duties if it will help them out.
Does depend on the job for me, in my job if I'd had a back issue but was fit enough again to ride my MTB I think I'd be fit enough to return to work (I sit on a comfy chair all day), I'd probably at least test it and if I had issues arise just tell my boss, go home and stick to the sick note time off. If I had a physical job then I'd look at the MTBing more as helping with rehabilitation rather than a test of fitness to work.
That said if they've been dicking you around with redundancy threats then chances are you've already had enough time off sick to make the short-list if another round comes up so you may as well take all the time you're entitled to...
Take the time but I'd say arrange a meeting with line management (and hr if needed) to go through the situation and plan to get back.