Vicky’s story: “I won’t ever work again”

“I've lost everything.”

Vicky worked as a youth worker. As part of her job, she was required to participate in a self-protection program. Vicky frequently encountered situations that required de-escalation and conflict management. This program gave Vicky the necessary skills to handle these scenarios calmly and effectively.

During the program, Vicky needed to restrain her training partner using handcuffs. As Vicky began to kneel on the floor to participate in the simulation, a sudden stabbing pain shot through Vicky’s back.

“The pain was excruciating,” says Vicky. “I couldn’t move.”

Vicky’s story

In 1996, Vicky relocated to Australia in pursuit of better employment opportunities. Here, she discovered her passion for assisting young people with their personal development. Vicky embarked on a career with the Department of Youth Justice, securing a full-time position in youth work.

Vicky was a compassionate and dedicated individual. She was driven by a deep sense of empathy and a desire to make a positive impact on the lives of those she surrounded herself with. She had an incredibly positive outlook on life and always made the best of the situations she was put in.

That’s why, when Vicky initially encountered the challenge of her back injury, she assumed it would be a minor setback, not a life-altering event.

The aftermath of the back injury

Following the back incident, Vicky was taken to the Austin Hospital, where an MRI scan revealed L2 to L5 disc bulges in her spine.

Vicky assumed that if she did all the right things, like going to rehabilitation, doing physiotherapy, and getting massages – then she would get better.

But the pain never left.

The symptoms she experienced fluctuated daily. On better days, Vicky felt as though she was ready to return to work, but on the worst of them, the pain severely limited her ability to walk and restricted basic household tasks.

The pain would not go away, and after 18 months of pain, Vicky’s GP prescribed her Lyrica.

The risks of Lyrica

Lyrica is a potent painkiller often prescribed to treat nerve pain and spinal cord injuries.

Like all prescription medications, Lyrica came with its side effects and potential risks.

Unbeknownst to Vicky, one of the uncommon side effects of Lyrica is it can cause suicidal thoughts and actions, as well as new or increased feelings of anxiety, depression, and other unusual changes in mood and behaviour.

Vicky was on Lyrica for just six weeks. She began experiencing episodes of verbal psychosis, which progressively got worse and worse.

Verbal psychosis involves hearing voices when there is no one speaking – often telling you to act in ways you normally wouldn’t. Over those six weeks, Vicky began doing things completely out of character and disconnected from reality. Tragically, these episodes culminated in Vicky setting herself on fire.

Vicky suffered severe burns to over fifty per cent of her body and entered a two-month coma due to the trauma.

“It doesn’t happen to everybody, but Lyrica cost me everything,” says Vicky.

Vicky’s right to workers' compensation

Vicky initially met with our Geelong Personal Injuries team to discuss her back injury and find out what her options were. At first, it wasn’t a case that looked necessarily complex. But once Vicky was prescribed Lyrica, her case completely changed.

As Lyrica was prescribed to Vicky due to her back injury, the psychotic episodes and the burns were a consequence of her initial injury and the subsequent treatment.

Vicky's case for workers' compensation now included the severe side effects of the medication prescribed for her work-related injury.

However, the challenges didn’t stop here – while it was accepted that the back injury occurred at work, we had to get medical evidence linking the back injury with the psychotic episode to the burns. We needed to get medical evidence to prove that the burns were essentially a consequence of the back injury.

Our team worked diligently to ensure that Vicky received the compensation she deserved, not only for her back injury but also for the traumatic events that followed due to the side effects of Lyrica. This included covering her medical expenses, surgeries, and compensation for the significant impact on her quality of life.

“I believe Maurice Blackburn went out of their way to get me as much as they could,” says Vicky. “If you want people who will look after you and give you peace and confidence, knowing that you can trust them, definitely go to Maurice Blackburn.” 

Getting help with a work injury claim

If you've been injured at your workplace or as part of your work, you may be eligible to make a workplace injury claim. Our dedicated workers' compensation lawyers are here to help you get back on track so you can focus on your recovery.

Worker’s compensation claims can become very complex. Our team are highly skilled and experienced in getting the best outcomes for our clients. Use our free claim check tool to find out if you're eligible for a worker's compensation claim, send us a message or call us on 1800 111 222.