After a Car Accident Bending my Legs Caused Pain!

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ht or I’d get muscle spasms, so I learnt to drive a large motor-scooter where I put my legs up on the front, and didn’t have to bend them.</p><p id="f439">I still have to keep my legs straight and be careful, or the pain flares up.</p><h1 id="18ac">Employers’ objections</h1><p id="a155">At work, trying to keep my legs straight sometimes meant I was sat awkwardly in meetings. Some employers objected to making any reasonable adjustments so that I wasn’t in pain, while others were sympathetic to the problem.</p><p id="8da3">Among the complaints were that they didn’t like the way I sat, and they didn’t like the scooter that I used to get to work!</p><p id="7b46">I dread to think what it is like for those people with a real disability, when something as simple as keeping your legs straight is treated like a big issue.

In contrast, one employer was great and changed my desk for a table so that I could pop my legs up straight on a footstool under my desk. I appreciated that.</p><h1 id="16c6">Managing a lifelong condition</h1><p id="e014">I’ll continue to use osteopathic treatments and stretching exercises to stop the symptoms from worsening. It seems the accident caused nerve damage which is untreatable.</p><p id="ff38">I hope the men who caused the accident are more careful, but I doubt it. They were reluctant to put the accident through the insurance company at the time. I’

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m glad we insisted though, as it meant I got some of my medical expenses paid, and modest compensation to help pay for some of the treatments I needed in the future.</p><p id="b6e3">I now do stretching exercises and do my own osteopathy as best I can. Remarkably, cycling helped loosen things up for a while, and staying active helps.

I’ve come a long way since the swelling and I’m free from pain most of the time, but I do still have to keep my legs straight much of the time or the spasms begin and the pain comes back.</p><p id="71f4">It’s a condition for life, but avoiding cramped spaces and sitting a bit odd is a small price to pay for being pain free!</p><p id="5085">© Susie Kearley 2023. All Rights Reserved.</p><p id="2e40">More from me…</p><ul><li><a href="https://readmedium.com/an-old-friend-told-me-she-hated-me-im-glad-29d76827b46f?source=search_post---------0----------------------------">An Old Friend Told Me She Hated Me & I’m Glad</a></li><li><a href="https://readmedium.com/i-didnt-shampoo-my-hair-for-3-months-e99d35995b18?source=search_post---------1----------------------------">I Didn’t Shampoo My Hair for 3 Months</a></li><li><a href="https://readmedium.com/angry-medium-writers-should-stop-moaning-adapt-d8f4c114f434?source=search_post---------2----------------------------">Angry Medium Writers Should Stop Moaning & Adapt</a></li></ul></article></body>

It gave me insight to how inflexible employers can be

We were sat in our car, stationary at the junction back in 2006. Suddenly there was an impact behind us and we jolted forward, startled. A four-wheel drive vehicle had driven straight into the back of our little Ford Fiesta. The back was crumpled like an accordion and whilst we managed to limp to our destination, the car was a write off. Shortly after the accident, I started to get shooting pains from my kneecap up the front of my thigh. As the days and weeks progressed it got worse and my knee was swelling. I couldn’t get up the stairs without being in pain.

An osteopath confirmed that the car accident had caused the spasms and pain. She pressed where it hurt and the pain was excruciating, but the improvement after a series of treatments was remarkable.

I received further osteopathy treatments and modest compensation, but it wasn’t going to pay for a lifetime of treatments, so I learnt to treat myself, did stretching exercises, and ate lots of anti-inflammatory foods.

I had to keep my legs straight or I’d get muscle spasms, so I learnt to drive a large motor-scooter where I put my legs up on the front, and didn’t have to bend them.

I still have to keep my legs straight and be careful, or the pain flares up.

Employers’ objections

At work, trying to keep my legs straight sometimes meant I was sat awkwardly in meetings. Some employers objected to making any reasonable adjustments so that I wasn’t in pain, while others were sympathetic to the problem.

Among the complaints were that they didn’t like the way I sat, and they didn’t like the scooter that I used to get to work!

I dread to think what it is like for those people with a real disability, when something as simple as keeping your legs straight is treated like a big issue. In contrast, one employer was great and changed my desk for a table so that I could pop my legs up straight on a footstool under my desk. I appreciated that.

Managing a lifelong condition

I’ll continue to use osteopathic treatments and stretching exercises to stop the symptoms from worsening. It seems the accident caused nerve damage which is untreatable.

I hope the men who caused the accident are more careful, but I doubt it. They were reluctant to put the accident through the insurance company at the time. I’m glad we insisted though, as it meant I got some of my medical expenses paid, and modest compensation to help pay for some of the treatments I needed in the future.

I now do stretching exercises and do my own osteopathy as best I can. Remarkably, cycling helped loosen things up for a while, and staying active helps. I’ve come a long way since the swelling and I’m free from pain most of the time, but I do still have to keep my legs straight much of the time or the spasms begin and the pain comes back.

It’s a condition for life, but avoiding cramped spaces and sitting a bit odd is a small price to pay for being pain free!