Gubbed Knee - possible PCL tear! OH assist?

[greengiant]

A bit of advice please!

For past 8 weeks or so I've been having problems with my right knee, ever since I missed a step and over extended it. I have been keeping it strapped up, and taking ibuprofen. Was still able to do daily delivery walks on foot despite this. Had not seen GP either as i thougt it'd just get better in time with ibuprofen.

Anyway 3 weeks ago I decided it wasn';t getting any better, it was still rather swollen, so I went to see a private physio. Initial appointment was 2 weeks ago, physio couldn';t really tell much due to the swelling.

2nd appointment was this evening. Physio expressed concern that my knee is not starting to lock and is still swollen. So she is wanting to get me a referral for a orthapeadic consultant as she suspects possible PCL tear http://www.physioroom.com/injuries/knee/pcl_full.php She will draft a letter for my to hand to my GP to try and get the appointment for scan / xray.

To date I have not informed my lino of my gammy knee, as I was still able to do a days delivery.

However seeing as it seems likely that I'll need time off for scan, and possibly surgery depending on what the consultant finds, I think I'll need to have a wee word with my lino tomorrow.

Can RM arrange an appointment with consultant through atos / OH assist? Or should I best go through my own GP? 'll be picking up the letter to hand to my GP tomorrow, and I'll be sure to lay it on thick with The Keeper Of The Appointments at my surgery tomorrow to try and get an appointment ASAP.

Not the news I was wanting to hear from my physio tonight! I guess i'm lucky that since i've been with RM for over 12 months I'll get sick pay... Just a shame it looks like my planned summer adventures cycling / camping are going down the pan.

[spiderj]

Go through your gp

Oh assist will be contacted by your lino once you tell him or her

Keep copies of all paperwork

Also what's worst case scenario?

[greengiant]

Go through your gp

Oh assist will be contacted by your lino once you tell him or her

Keep copies of all paperwork

Also what's worst case scenario?

Phyio thinks that depending on what the scan shows, surgical reconstruction may be required! Wishing I hadn't got my manly Samson the Strong esque long hair cut a few months ago, nothing but lurgy and injury since then!

[greengiant]

SPoke to lino this morning.
He didn't seem too upset, and just asked me to keep him informed. Mind you, that was probably due to the fact that I said that I could still walk with the injury...

knee locked a few times while out today!

I now have letter from physio - she is pretty certain it's pcl damage (shame I'm not on a footballers wages, since this is predominantly a footballers injury....), along with medial meniscus damage.

Tried to make appointment with gp for tomorrow (luckily I'm on day off), but Keeper Of The Appointments said I have to phone from 8:30am in the morning to arrange a same day appointment. Heres hoping I can wangle an appointment

[datasaint]

Whilst you can still walk on it, it certainly won't be helping it heal and could potentially make it worse. I would seriously consider taking 3 or 4 weeks off, rather than have the issue persist on for months and months.

[greengiant]

Whilst you can still walk on it, it certainly won't be helping it heal and could potentially make it worse. I would seriously consider taking 3 or 4 weeks off, rather than have the issue persist on for months and months.

Well, walking on the injury for ~8 weeks since it has happened hasn't helped it so yes some time off would help especially since it is a physical job that we are doing. Fortunately I get sick pay now i've been with RM longer than 12 months. (13 and a half now)

Luckily i've a huge stash of airfix model kits to keep me amused....

[greengiant]

Managed to get passed the Keeper of The Appointments . See gp at 9:10am

[spiderj]

Do yourself a favour and if told to rest then rest.

Its not manly to cripple yourself for a wage as some folk seem to think

[greengiant]

Saw GP. Got card to visit local hospital for an xray today, along with a two week "fit note" recommending indoor duties. Dr will also send off referral letter to orthopeadic consultant. Better pop into office on way to hospital so I can see the sad face on my lino when I hand my fit note in....

[greengiant]

Handed in fit note to the other lino (my own was out of office), was told to expect a phone call from mine in the afternoon, as yet still nothing! X-Ray done at hospital, results in 7 - 10 days. The other lino says i've to come in as usual at half 6 tomorrow - so I wonder what duties they'll have me doing?

[spiderj]

Your fit note says indoors
...bet they try and get you on delivery.....

I tried to soldier on...now looking at ihr if they can't sack me first.

Good luck

[greengiant]

Your fit note says indoors
...bet they try and get you on delivery.....

I tried to soldier on...now looking at ihr if they can't sack me first.

Good luck

Thanks spiderj.

I really do hope it doesn't end in ihr / sacking in my case. WOuldn't get much with ihr as only been in job just over 13 months!

[greengiant]

the "indoor" work was a bit of prepping.

Then out to deliver two rows of "small, flat, no stairs" walk. DOM thinks the knee will be fine and dandy with daily ice baths, and that i'll be fine and dandy to do a couple of wee rows.

Any knee pain probably masked by my being on max strength ibuprofen.

[spiderj]

Fella,only do what you're sure you can manage,no prizes for making an injury worse.

Ibuprofen will help with swelling but it needs time to heal

If you return to full strength you'll be fine.

Take it easy

[Deadmail]

the "indoor" work was a bit of prepping.

Then out to deliver two rows of "small, flat, no stairs" walk. DOM thinks the knee will be fine and dandy with daily ice baths, and that i'll be fine and dandy to do a couple of wee rows.

Any knee pain probably masked by my being on max strength ibuprofen.

Listen to the advice from the medical experts & not your DOM - He is not qualified to give Medical advice and obviously doesn't give a f**k about the possibility of you aggravating your injury. You are making the effort to go in and try to be productive, would he rather the option of you being absent from work completely ? Look after your own interests because this firm will quite happily allow you to cripple yourself if you are willing to do so.