Tanya is an HR executive who is really good at her job.
She comes to work early, she often stays late, her work is exemplary, she rarely complains about anything and her conduct is always professional. Since she needs to set an example for her colleagues, her personal feelings are hidden behind a calm composure. That was until 8 August 2007, the day her life changed forever.
Tanya was involved in what seemed to be a minor car accident where she sustained a whiplash injury (soft-tissue injury of the neck). Five years later she quit her job, and yet another 2 years after that, she was awarded in slight excess of R2m for her loss of income, general damages and medical expenses due to this “minor” accident.
What seemed to start out as a mere pain in her neck, because of her whiplash injury, resulted in her developing chronic pain syndrome, which left her unable to work and carry on her normal life as she knew it. Today Tanya took the time to tell us her story.
We met up at the offices of Simpsons Attorneys, the personal injury lawyers who stood by her through the entire time that she had to fight for compensation. She tells me about her background and how she always had to remain in control despite what life threw at her and how she wasn’t used to relying on anyone but herself.
So what’s it like living with chronic pain syndrome?
“You are constantly aware of something holding you back, I felt like a failure”. These are the words spoken by what seems like a strong and independent woman, a single mother, who had to work full-time, and took on a second job in order to provide for her family. Her parents taught her that you simply coped in life, no matter what. She takes pride in the fact that she could raise her daughters well and that she performed at work, but when she started living with chronic pain every day of her life, she felt like she had lost all of that control. She simply could not manage what was happening to her, causing her to become severely depressed.
Life and work
“Every morning I get up and I decide what I can do and what I need to avoid. I monitor and plan all my movements in order to avoid pain in my neck. Simple things that I used to do are now virtually impossible. I cannot carry a bag, so I walk around with a backpack. I avoid any strenuous tasks like hanging the washing or cleaning my home. Even gardening is a problem. My spontaneity is gone: I cannot lift a box or even lie in bed to read a book.”
The fact that she had to hide her pain at work caused immense stress. Having to set an example meant not showing her discomfort so she took chronic pain medication daily to help her regain the focus she required to get her work done. Sitting in meetings for long periods of time became impossible. She tried to pretend that everything was okay, but her body constantly reminded her of the pain she was experiencing.
Eventually, Tanya developed a stomach ulcer due to the constant pain medication she was taking, as well as high blood pressure due to stress she was under. She became severely depressed when she realised that she could no longer function in her work environment, yet she also couldn’t survive financially without her job.
She started living on a month-to-month basis, until July 2012, when she simply couldn’t go on any longer. She resigned and lost a critical portion of her pension because she could not carry on working.
The connection between whiplash and depression
Tanya never realised there was a direct connection between her whiplash injury and her depression until she spoke to her doctor. At first she thought the pain would go away, thinking it was muscular. Eventually she became anxious because the pain in her neck would simply not subside. After she underwent an operation to control the pain, she was pain free for about 6 months. But then the pain came back and her doctor told her that it would now be her constant companion.
The onset of depression began when she could no longer concentrate at work. She was also really sad that she had to say goodbye to the adventures she still wanted to pursue in life. Withdrawing from people and living in solitude seemed the only option. One morning she didn’t want to get up and wondered if it wouldn’t be better if she was dead. But even then she thought of others and realised she could never do that to her daughters.
Attorneys with Heart
Tanya’s neuro-surgeon referred her to Simpsons Attorneys, and from their very first consultation Tanya finally felt that she could let go. It took 7 years for her to get the compensation she deserved, a period during which she never needed to pay Simpsons Attorneys one penny.
“I never felt like a piece of paper, these people really cared, they listened and when I became despondent they would remind me of how far we had come”.
The Road Accident Fund (RAF) tried their best to prove that she did not resign due to her accident and took her to court – an action they rarely pursue since they prefer to avoid costs. She describes this as the worst experience of her life. Even though the RAF tried to discredit her, dragging the personal details of her life into the case, Simpsons stood firm. She was under cross examination for 3 days, but ultimately her case was proven without a doubt. The RAF wanted to appeal the case, but withdrew from doing so after Simpsons intervened.
Back in control
Tanya’s life is simpler now. She lives at a slower pace, yet she does it according to her own rules. She doesn’t drive in traffic anymore and she chooses to focus on the small things that bring her joy, like helping her elderly mother, enjoying her granddaughters, living day by day and not worrying about her future. Since the biggest cause of her stress is gone, she can also manage the pain better.
Her advice to others?
“Don’t give up, but don’t do it alone, find someone that will support you throughout the long process. Because of the support of Simpsons Attorneys, and in particular my attorney Tamlyn Melville, I believed and persevered. Their knowledge and experience made all the difference. I was elated when we won, and all I could think about was that I wasn’t crazy, the pain was real, what happened to me was real.”
In looking at this brave woman in front of me, I realise that although it was a long journey, she didn’t only receive the compensation she deserved, she also learned to trust someone other than herself. Somehow I know that made the biggest difference of all.
