A trained nurse, Bridgette knew that activity was crucial therapy for her damaged knee.
But how could she get out to do it in a complete leg brace?
Bridgette is a specialist nurse who lives in coastal Whangārei. She had a serious injury where she broke her patella and ruptured the ligaments around it. The pain was extreme and she couldn’t even walk on crutches, having to stay in hospital until she could get surgery.
The surgery was major. The surgeons had to pull the tendon back over the patella and remove the broken bone fragments. After surgery she was put into a steel, thigh-high brace that didn’t allow any leg movement at all. Recovery has been long and uncomfortable.
Once she started to get a little movement back, she began looking for a workable transport option. Usually very active, the last thing she wanted was to be stuck at home for months. And, as a medical professional, she knew activity could play a crucial role in the best and fastest recovery. The local pool offered a perfect solution for her injury, but how could she get there?
An online search uncovered Freedom Mobility, and Bridgette realised a hand-control car would give her the independence and mobility she would need while recovering. It would also let her plan her days based on how she was feeling. Some days Bridgette was in a lot of pain or had bad sleep, so having her own vehicle meant she could go to the pool or appointments when it suited her.
Before she got the Freedom Mobility car approved, she was using Driving Miss Daisy. Public Transport was not an option in coastal Whangārei, and with a full leg brace, no movement in that leg, and strong pain medication, driving simply wasn’t possible. Bridgette says Driving Miss Daisy were a genuine lifesaver during that time. With each trip costing between $70 and $100 and, because she lives 40 minutes out of Whangārei, the cost for regular trips were starting to add up quickly. Getting approvals for each taxi trip also took time. As Bridgette puts it, ‘you need to know your life in advance when you’re relying on taxis or driving services.’
She also found that the taxi-approval process didn’t always keep up with real life. Any small change in plans meant more calls, more approvals, and sometimes extra trips that could’ve been done in one go. It cost time, and it cost ACC money. Bridgette was trying to get to the pool as much as she possibly could. Alongside a lot of trips into town, frequent doctors appointments, and physio and acupuncture appointments associated with her recovery plan, there was a lot to plan and meant costs mounting for ACC.
When her hand control car was finally approved, everything became much easier. Keith delivered the car to her house and took her for a drive around her local streets. Bridgette admits to being a bit nervous, but describes Keith as amazing. From Keith’s point of view, Bridgette picked things up easily, with just the right balance of caution and confidence.
Bridgette is fully in the swing of driving her hand-control car now, driving herself to physio, acupuncture, doctors’ appointments and into town. It meant she could also stay connected to her family, especially her grandchildren. Keeping up the pool therapy, when her body feels up to it, is much easier. She says the car has given her independence back and made day-to-day life much simpler.
There are still months of recovery ahead, but being able to drive has made a huge difference. Bridgette is convinced it will help her get back to work faster and recover quicker. In her words, it has changed her life.
Many people recovering from patella fractures, knee surgery or other injuries that prevent them from driving a normal car don’t realise they may qualify for a hand-control car from Freedom Mobility, funded by ACC. It can be the difference between months stuck at home with the hassle of organising taxis, versus remaining independent, active and socially connected while you recover.
When you consider just one trip a day at $70 would cover the cost of the vehicle, including delivery and pick up, driving lesson and daily hire, it’s an obvious win-win. One you should consider if the circumstances arise.
Helpful Resources
Renting a Hand Control Vehicle through ACC
ACC Supports Available and how to access them
Top tips for recovering from a Leg Injury at home.
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Matt’s Story: Keeping a business running after an Achilles Injury
Ange’s story: Driving with a Shoulder Injury
Leana and Marks Story: One car, two injuries, full independence
