I left work early on Tuesday. I couldn't stay. My hands were so painful. Palms felt like they were burning, pains in both thumbs, fingers and shooting pains up my forearms. I only stayed as long as I did because they were suppose to be doing a DSE assessment but turns out my manager had the wrong day. She asked if I would go into work yesterday, on my day off, and I agreed.
[I want to add that before I left I said will it be classes as the same absence and she said it should be but she'd need to check with HR. On Friday when she done my return to work I specifically asked if I tried to work and couldn't would it be grouped in with the one absence and she said it would be.]
Anyway, yesterday I went into work for 11am, hanging about for five minutes until person was ready to do assessment. He got me to sit at my desk and I would normally. Apparently as I'm tall with long arms I've been sitting too low on the seat so pushing my keyboard forward. He advised me to have my seat higher. He also suggested an ergonomic keyboard and to have a mouse on its side. He said it might not help but it's worth a try.
After this my manager wanted to see how I was before I left but after she spoke to the person doing the assessment. My manager then said this will help but in a way that sounded like she'd be argumentative if it doesn't work. I also mentioned the cortisone injections that might be offered and she said she has something similar in her elbow and it does work. Now my physiotherapist said it doesn't always work so to be prepared that it might not help. The best bit was my manger telling me to get stronger painkillers from my doctor so I can work. Seriously. I already take ibuprofen and then codeine (8/500) but to be honest they don't help. Stronger painkillers make me drowsy, even 8/500 codeine can make me drowsy. Also, painkillers just mask the pain so I'd be doing damage with the pain to slow me down. Clearly work just don't care. It's ok my manager saying to work on but they're my hands and it's me who'll have to live with permanent damage if I ignore the pain. Carpal tunnel is compression and damage to the median nerve, in my case it's bilateral so I'm risking permanent damage in both hands. It's not like I have the cold or I'm hungover.
The report from occupational health did say my job role puts me at greater risk of carpal tunnel syndrome.
I'm so stressed about this meeting tomorrow. I don't know if I should sign off work until they have new equipment, then give it a try. I'm scared about losing my job but what if I work through pain, do irreparable damage and then can't work anyway. I know I need to put my health first but should it be this difficult?
Its because its work its stressing you out. You need to get a sickline and hand it in until you feel better. Go back when they have the proper keyboard and mouse & try see if it helps .. if it doesnt go on the sick again. Your absence from work is due to carpal tunnel and each time u go back thats you trying. Theirs no need for them to be argumentative about it. Its your health it comes before work. Get a sickline. Oh and your manager saying she has the same thing for her elbow - im suprised u didnt laugh at that comment. Its your hands!! You use your hands a lot more than your elbow. And as you said injections only work sometimes so she should be grateful they have worked for her. X
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you decided to leave, as echo has said, see if the keyboard and mouse work, if they don't then stay on the sick. We're not talking the sniffles here, it's real potential long term problems if you work. Work will just have to get used to that :-) xx
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