work related injury, completely nb

[muminator]

Hi all
Just been told by my doctor that if I'm not very careful, I will be permanantly disabled and may have to give up work completely. I'm a sign language interpreter and I've got De Querain's synovitis (I think) from signing lectures in a college for regular four hour stretches. And I LOVE my job.

My question is: Is this my fault?
And if it isn't, whose is it?

Sorry to bother you with an nb, but I'm depressed and HWMBO is away in Scandinavia. So I'm offloading on you lot...

God, what's this gonna do for my sailing????

gonna go climb into a wine bottle, I think.

Sue

<hr width=100% size=1>Definition of an expert: An Ex is a has-been, and a Spurt is a drip under pressure...

 

[Becky]

Definitely not your fault. Thought about having a stamp made of your signature? Could make life MUCH easier.

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[muminator]

I rarely sign my name (if your initials were SOD, you'd avoid it, too!), my injury is from translating voice into British Sign Language for up to seven hours a day.

<hr width=100% size=1>Definition of an expert: An Ex is a has-been, and a Spurt is a drip under pressure...

 

[jimboaw]

A quick Google will confirm your problem is definately work related. Similar to other repetative strain injuries such as tennis elbow. Treatment is steroid injections into the affected joint and rest. I recon your quack was laying it on a bit thick !!

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[cliff]

De Quervain's synovitis is not the end of the world - it is treatable so do not panic. If you wish to continue signing you may need surgery to free the tendons but I am sure your doc has already explained all this to you..

Some light reading can be found <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.dochand.com/7A4b_index.html> here </A>

Seems there is no need to panic about giving up sailing.......

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[muminator]

Thanks all

I've been looking it up and I reckon you're right, I think my doc was trying to scare me.
I think he knows I'm the sort who doesn't stop working easily, so he used scare tactics to make sure I rest it properly!

Phew!!

<hr width=100% size=1>Definition of an expert: An Ex is a has-been, and a Spurt is a drip under pressure...

 

[boatone]

You should take this seriously as a work related injury is a serious matter for both you and your employer.
The employer has a duty of care to ensure that your working practices are safe which may include laying down prescribed periods of activity, rest periods etc.
If you work for a public sector college you should be able to access an Occupational Health unit which will assess the reality of the injury and its work related issues and assist you and your employers to agree suitable action. Alternatively you could contact the local HSE office for advice.
I have access to an OH professional and may be able to help put you in touch with someone in your area if you PM me.

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[Birdseye]

Do you really want medical advice from unknowns on a boating forum. Take note of what your Doc says, and if you're not happy with that, then get a proper medical second opinion. Meantime, if you're not off work it might be sense to go part time and reduce the risk a bit.

As far as your job is concerned, there is no benefit in keeping doing it, and ending up disabled yourself. Its not anyones fault as such, neither yours nor your employer. Does everything bad have to be someone's fault? Of course not.

But if you want some dosh and work for the public sector then put in a claim - employers are liable whether its their fault or not, and most public sector employers seem willing to settle out of court because the cost doesnt matter and the time and trouble do. The odds are very much in your favour

<hr width=100% size=1>this post is a personal opinion, and you should not base your actions on it.