Foo - Working while injured

I know that most of you will agree that it's not the brightest thing in the world to do but I was wondering something. Have any of you worked while injured? I mean ~ either from being injured at work or from something else, have you toughed it out and just continued on?

If so, was this against doctor's orders or did you simply not say anything about your injury?

Twisted my ankle one morning running to the car.
Worked 12 hours on a stand up job weighting tomatoes in 8 pound boxes as the came to me on a conveyor system.

I am in the construction trades. I have worked while injured on and off the job. Broken hand once, broken ribs another, back injury from an auto accident, knee injury from rollerskating. Getting hurt is part of life. So is work. I had one doctor tell me to change careers. I changed doctors and have been in the same trade since.

Twisted my ankle one morning running to the car.
Worked 12 hours on a stand up job weighting tomatoes in 8 pound boxes as the came to me on a conveyor system.

Were you able to catsup with the orders?

Were you able to catsup with the orders?

No, they were green tomatoes.

Yes, I have worked with an injury. Pulled back muscles. I told the bossman about it, and he told me to stay away from the heavy lifting.

Had a wicked papercut a while back. Considered taking a few days off, however I stuck it out.

Back injuries, muscles strains and slips/ falls seem to be the top issues in most work places. If you think about it, a lot of it happens because of rushing, negligence or not paying attention.

Yes, I have worked with an injury. Pulled back muscles. I told the bossman about it, and he told me to stay away from the heavy lifting.

He didn't fill out a report or have you taken care of?

He didn't fill out a report or have you taken care of?


Well, I didn't hurt it while working, so there wasn't anything he could do about it.

Oh I mistook it that you got hurt at work.

Not while seriously injured. It's hard (read: almost impossible) to give a massage when you're immobile.

I also refuse to work while sick. You really don't want your therapist sick around you...

Small cuts/scrapes/road rash, sure. If it's on the hand, I wear a glove.

who hasn't worked while injured?

broken ribs, road rash, a healing broken arm, fevers from colds, been there done that and ridden thru all of it

road rash, slight fracture of pelvis, sever soft tissue damage to lower leg. My work involves seating on my ass and staring at the screen so wasn't too bad. Had to drive to work thought. That sucked. As for work related injuries. None so far, but ergonomic related ones are common at my company.

I am working. I am injured. My hands are burned and I have a water blister right on the finger tip of my mouse clicking finger. Clicking hurts. I should go home.

yes, I've worked while injured and I wouldn't recommend it. Made me very angry and I eventually took it out on the people around me.

Broke my hand way back when snowboarding, and didn't have the money to go to a doc for a cast. Since I was working in a snowboard shop, all of my co-workers commiserated and picked up the slack from my one-handedness. I would bump my middle finger every once in a while setting up a rental board for a customer, and it was excruciating. On the upside, when I told rental customers why my hand was the size of a softball, they tended to feel bad and left a pretty decent tip.

I went throught the Fire Acadamy with a broken right foot, jogging every day, hurt all the time....bad! Then when I became a FireFighter I fractured a few ribs while riding and went to work the next day, while on a run the driver made a very sharp turn while driving pretty fast and I fell over and smashed my ribs against the engine compartment, I was rushed to the hospital 'cause I couldn't breath due to now broken ribs. Did I work while injured on or of the job? yes, and not only at the FireDept. was it very stupid to do so? YES! Why? 'cause toady at 45 my right foot hurts almost all the time and my breathing never was right after I broke the ribs, would I do it the same if I had the chance? HELL NO! Why? 'cause all the dumb **** you do as a chick creeps up on you when your an old rooster.

I tore my quad tendon at work. I had surgery in October and was on Workers Comp for 4 months. I was out of work completly for the first month, then I went back part time on restricted duty, just doing office work.
If my company tried to make me return to full duty before I was cleared by the doctor, they could have gotten in big trouble, especially if I re injured my leg.
Even now I'm only at about 75%, I have to be carefull lifting, carying stuff, climbing...

I dislocated a shoulder and was back at work within a day you wusses. Well, to be honest, I was a programmer at the time, it takes a lot to put a programmer out of commission. :rolleyes: And I was working from home too.

I guess it depends on the injury. Some you will make worse while others it doesn't really matter except the pain.

Oh, I had a bad back injury when I was 17 working in a lumber yard and came back the next day - so they put me on the counter since the doctor said not to pick up anything for a while. They sent me home in about an hour, you see the doctor also subscribed 10 mg of valium 4 times a day... :eek: :lol:

I am working. I am injured. My hands are burned and I have a water blister right on the finger tip of my mouse clicking finger. Clicking hurts. I should go home.

Thank your lucky stars you still have a hide after last weeks mechanical Shenanigans.

Being accident prone, I have definitely had to work when injuried. There have been times when my doctor gave me a note for modified work load and I took his advice but other times when I had a more physical job and had to do things against doctor's wishes (and my wishes) to get the job done. If it's been something I need physical therapy for, then I just make sure to concentrate on that when I'm not at work to help heal faster. Good luck.

This past Jan, I scheduled a week off for post surgery recuperation. This was the doctor's recommendation. The next week, my manager suggested I take short term disability. I did and I'm glad I did. It turns out you can get a DUI for driving while taking prescription narcotics.

It's been my experience that it's better to be working while hurt, than hurting for work. I've worked while hurt:

-Road rash on one knee that prevented me from bending it. Was working food service during this time.
-Soft tissue injury to my back after totaling my car on the way in to work. Was working in a warehouse/distribution center at the time. Was changing out the forklift batteries by myself again within a week.
-Twisted or severely sprained my ankle getting off the bus for a 0700 college History class. Then went to work afterwards where like 90% of the work that I do is stand up.

Other than the auto accident, I saw no medical attention. No crutches, no meds, no real lost time with any of them.

It's been my experience that it's better to be working while hurt, than hurting for work. I've worked while hurt:

-Road rash on one knee that prevented me from bending it. Was working food service during this time.
-Soft tissue injury to my back after totaling my car on the way in to work. Was working in a warehouse/distribution center at the time. Was changing out the forklift batteries by myself again within a week.
-Twisted or severely sprained my ankle getting off the bus for a 0700 college History class. Then went to work afterwards where like 90% of the work that I do is stand up.

Other than the auto accident, I saw no medical attention. No crutches, no meds, no real lost time with any of them.

It really depends on the injury. I wouldn't be surprised if you end up getting some chronic back pain due to your working right after the soft tissue injury to your back.

I've gone to work with (non work induced) back injuries. I spent most of the day at a computer, and had someone else help with working. Most of the people around me reminded me this is why I have sick time, and next time I'll use it. Not work related, but I showed up at a rock climbing competition once with my hand in a splint due to some ruptured tendon sheaths. There was a 15 year old near me climbing with a cast due to a broken arm. Needless to say, neither of us did all that well (needed to make the minimum # of events).

Stitches, I forgot to mention stitches. I've had to leave a few job sites to get stitches and go back to finish my work. I quit getting stitches and keep super glue in the work truck. If I get cut at work I glue it and let it dry and go right back to work. No big deal.

Did I work while injured on or of the job? yes, and not only at the FireDept. was it very stupid to do so? YES! Why? 'cause toady at 45 my right foot hurts almost all the time and my breathing never was right after I broke the ribs, would I do it the same if I had the chance? HELL NO! Why? 'cause all the dumb **** you do as a chick creeps up on you when your an old rooster.
Well......I'm currently working with a fractured rib. And in my line of work I'm feeling that perhaps this isn't what I should be doing. Still thinking of not wimping it out and going in tomorrow. Just have to take it easy.

Well......I'm currently working with a fractured rib. And in my line of work I'm feeling that perhaps this isn't what I should be doing. Still thinking of not wimping it out and going in tomorrow. Just have to take it easy.


Not being a wimp, just being wise, thats all. :) If something does happens (and I hope nothing does) you'll end up missing more than a day. :(

Oh, where do I start? Work-related back injuries, yes some times and no others.

My last few:

2001: missed 2 days of work due to the broken L wrist, splinted with a bowler's wrist brace for three weeks.
2005: missed 4 days of work due to the broken R wrist, which wound up casted for seven weeks.
2009/10: missed 4 days of work due to the sprained/broken L ankle, still have issues 1st thing in the morning; but I went to work daily for four weeks before discovering the break!

Not being a wimp, just being wise, thats all. :) If something does happens (and I hope nothing does) you'll end up missing more than a day. :(

Wow a smart person : D. I don't mean to be a Grammar Nazi but you just tripped on that sentence. >.< We better give you a little more time to let that BUUUURRRN heal. O YA O YA I SAID IT! Well...this is awkward. Good day.

Wow a smart person : D. I don't mean to be a Grammar Nazi but you just tripped on that sentence. >.< We better give you a little more time to let that BUUUURRRN heal. O YA O YA I SAID IT! Well...this is awkward. Good day.

Uh oh. :eek:

Stitches, I forgot to mention stitches. I've had to leave a few job sites to get stitches and go back to finish my work. I quit getting stitches and keep super glue in the work truck. If I get cut at work I glue it and let it dry and go right back to work. No big deal.

You can now buy adhesive sutures at the drug store,they work reasonably well.
Less burning sensation than super-glue.(did my son's chin after a hockey game).

I know that most of you will agree that it's not the brightest thing in the world to do but I was wondering something. Have any of you worked while injured? I mean ~ either from being injured at work or from something else, have you toughed it out and just continued on?

If so, was this against doctor's orders or did you simply not say anything about your injury?

Nope, I have never been a sucker for the man!

I was a martial arts instructor for a few years and can still feel all the numerous joint injuries and untreated fractures..
25 years later! No I am an auto mechanic and injuries are a daily part of my work routine :D. Except for the bulging discs, that wasn't fun. The pain is no big deal, but having my whole arm fall asleep just by being in the wrong position was scary.

I once wrenched an ankle at a warehouse summer job during college. It was work or goodbye. They cared little and called me out on my lessened production due to it. And they wondered why they got unionized.

after falling off my bike and breaking my right elbow, I got up, rode into work and continued to work for an hour or so then told the boss and went to the hospital. I was back at work after a week and a half; it was supposed to be a fortnight but I was bored at home and could hold a pen (without having to grit my teeth). I did go through more painkillers when I was working when I wasn't supposed to.

I wish I could go to work on painkillers but I operate heavy machinery. Plus I try not to have too many chemicals in my body if I can help it.

Well......I'm currently working with a fractured rib. And in my line of work I'm feeling that perhaps this isn't what I should be doing. Still thinking of not wimping it out and going in tomorrow. Just have to take it easy.
Would a temporary adjustment in responsibilities be a possibility? I severely burned myself more than 20 years ago (still have the scars) and I simply could not physically do my normal job for months even though I was willing to deal with quite a bit of pain.

Basically, my employer had me swap responsibilities with people who could do my job until I was capable. They weren't overjoyed about it, but they understood. I didn't like the idea of not being able to do my job, so I returned to regular work as soon as I could, though it took a long time.

I was temporarily blinded while viewing a solar eclipse here at the institute but I continued on the rest of the month putting fuses in the smart bombs.

Let see, when I broke my collarbone the first time I was told to stay out of work at least 6 weeks. Frankly I couldn't dress myself for two so that time was easy but I went back the 3rd week (I had to borrow a friend's car though since my is a stick shift). I completed a century after 8 weeks (the doctor probably would have killed me if he knew).

When I broke it the second time and had surgery, I was told 10 weeks. I was out 3. As soon as I could dress myself and drive, I went back.

After my cancer surgery, I was told minimum 10 weeks. I went back after 6. 6 weeks is a long time to be off work!

I have had various bumps, cuts, breaks and problems over the year. I never stay out as long as recommended. I get too bored and frankly my work only gets worse if I am gone. I regret coming back so soon after the cancer surgery. I think it took me awhile to recover and I didn't give my body a chance. After 3 years, I am still recovering.

BTW with me... no painkillers ever!!! I think that helps you recover faster. Even after the cancer surgery, I had them remove the pain pump and I never took drugs. My body and the pain told me what not to do.

I am very pain tolerant however. Maybe that's why I could go back sooner.

I remember working a couple of times while hurt. Seperated shoulder, that is memorable because I was working as a dental assistant and some bastard bit me while I was taking x-rays. And now since my knee is banged up. Oops just remembered one more, also knee, memorabkle because the elevator at work at teh time was so slooowwwww that it was easier on the knee to take the stairs than it was to wait that long.

I don't ever remember missing work for an injury, excluding of course the time off to get to the doctor.

But after college work has been depending on my mind, not my body. Before college my body would heal much more quickly than it does now.

The solution is simple.

Don't get hurt. :p

Only wish it could be so easy.

I know that most of you will agree that it's not the brightest thing in the world to do but I was wondering something. Have any of you worked while injured? I mean ~ either from being injured at work or from something else, have you toughed it out and just continued on?

If so, was this against doctor's orders or did you simply not say anything about your injury?

Doesn't everyone?

Maybe it's just what's expected being in the military.
(Do I have to change my attitude now that I'm retiring?)