(Before I go into detail of my injury I'm just going to warn you now the story of how it happened is embarrassing on my behalf) Ok so Tuesday night I had just got off from work & proceeded to walk to my car in the parking lot. I was with my friend & I was being dumb & just started to run around my car in a circle, because I was being dumb. In the process of me running I heard & felt my left knee crack. I tried to walk on it & it felt kind of unstable so I had to walk on my toes. Anyways I drove myself home & without think I stepped out the car with my left leg first & instantly heard a pop & I fell to the floor. I had to go get checked out at an ER & found out I sprained & strained my knee. I was given a knee immobilizer & crutches & told by the doctor to give my leg a week to let the swelling go down & then if it doesn't go down, to follow up with an orthopedist.
The next day I called out for work & explained my situation to my manager & told her I'd be out for at least a week. My manager told me to follow up with her & I must bring a medical paper stating I'd need to be out for a week. After the phone call I was looking through the papers the doctor from the ER gave & there's no direct quote stating I need to be off of my knee for a week, that was just a direct quote out of his mouth but I have no proof of that. My discharge papers just give me info on how to care for a knee sprain (e.i. rest, ice & prop my knee for 3 days(not a week) & then there's info saying a knee sprain takes up to 6 weeks or more to heal.
I'm just worried that whenever I make it back to work my manager will trip over my not having a paper stating I need to stay off my knee for a week like I said. My manager is extremely strict & does everything by the handbook, plus we don't exactly get along well. If she writes me up or tries to fire me, do you think her reasonings are justifiable. I'm in the union so maybe I can contest her actions, idk. Looking at me knee now I don't even feel like I'll be able to work a week from now. It's really unstable I can't put any weight on it or bend it. What do you guys think of the situation.
I would call your doctor's office and ask them to write you a note for your work.. maybe they can fax it over or you could just pick it up from the office yourself and take it over there (or get a ride if you can't drive)
If you're worried about the doctor bill (and who isn't these days, they charge a freaking FORTUNE), just go to a doc-in-the-box. Many of them have sliding scale fees. Just be sure to bring the original E.R. form with you. You'll be fine.
Original Poster Update: So I called the ER & asked for a work note stating I needed to be out for a week & the nurse on the phone with me explained that I misunderstood the doctor's orders. The doctors there usually tell patients with a sprain to stay out for 3-4 days & they ADVISE them to follow up with an orthopedist ONE WEEK after the sprain. The nurse I spook with then informed me she couldn't even find my information from the visit to begin writing me a work note sooooooo I'm just screwed. Thank you guys for your responses however.
Original Poster Update: So I called the ER & asked for a work note stating I needed to be out for a week & the nurse on the phone with me explained that I misunderstood the doctor's orders. The doctors there usually tell patients with a sprain to stay out for 3-4 days & they ADVISE them to follow up with an orthopedist ONE WEEK after the sprain. The nurse I spook with then informed me she couldn't even find my information from the visit to begin writing me a work note sooooooo I'm just screwed. Thank you guys for your responses however.
REALLY? I'm sure they will find it when it comes time for them to bill you....
Call your family doctor and ask them to write a note for you.
__________________
Would you like fries with th... I mean, your milk in a bag?
My discharge papers just give me info on how to care for a knee sprain (e.i. rest, ice & prop my knee for 3 days(not a week) & then there's info saying a knee sprain takes up to 6 weeks or more to heal. 
Thank you guys for your responses however.
