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How much physical activity can I resume after a fractured pelvis?

By Anonymous September 8, 2009 - 9:27pm
 
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I fractured my pelvis 8 months ago (crushed injury as a result of motor vehicle accident). I had surgery and rehad, i am able to ambulate with a limp & some left lower extremity weakness due to sciatia nerve injury I sustained. I am preparing to return to work but I am unsure as my job is physically demanding. I am also concerned because i am experiencing intermittent hip pains. I am a 42 yr old female. My bladder is intact however i am experiencing urinary frequency in the absence of a urinary tract infection.

mona

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I fractured my pelvis skiing in Jan. It was awful bc I'm such an active person. I know it could have been worse. I was 5 weeks on crutches and 1 month of PT. I didn't need surgery. Thank God. I run my first 5 k next week. My doctor says bc I was so active prior to the injury I was able to heal. I wish you the best of luck

June 17, 2017 - 6:41am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to traciem521)

I also fell skiing and have a nondisplaced fracture in my pelvis and a labral tear. It has been 6 weeks since the fall and I still cannot walk fast--when did you start running after your fracture? I love running and am wondering when I can expect to get back into it.

Did PT help?

March 8, 2018 - 3:02pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I was in a car accident and in this case the car flipped and i was thrown out of the car and then it landed on top of me. I was hospitalized for 10 days until they put me out for insurance reasons and only sent me home with one prescription for pain meds and 0 refills. I have a broken pelvis and fractures from the front to the back and a broken tailnone also.i have been immobile for 3 weeks now.the only position i can be in is on my back and even that seems almost impossible.the pain is that bad.my question is does anyone have any idea how long its going to take before ican walk and any thing i can do to get yeah I

March 1, 2015 - 7:22am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

You need to go to a ER and tell them you where in a car wreck and need help. You have to have your pelvis screwed into place if it shattered. And you will need help. The state your in and ask t j embwhay do you..

April 14, 2017 - 5:29am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

I also hav a fractured pelvis (front to back) due to an auto accident exactly 93 days ago. I was on crutches but not putting anymore than 20 pounds on my bad leg by week 3. Today I walked into walmart & back to my car without any assistance for the 1st time, although my limp is really bad. Ive been in therapy for only 3 weeks because of a insurance lapse but I quadruple the number of all exercises my therapist recommends at home.. BIG HELP! My biggest problem now is my foot drop. Everyone has a different answer when asked if it will heel on its own. I hope everyone reading this has a speedy recovery
#HopeThisHelps

September 7, 2016 - 9:41pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

somewhat of the same thing happened to me I thin on bed rest for 2 months and I barely feel a little relief I'm sorry hang in there I don't know that answer to your question but I do know that you'll start to feel a little better closer to 2 months

May 4, 2015 - 7:44am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

I am so sorry to hear about your accident. I was hit by a truck two years ago and had the same injuries - broken back, spine, broken pelvis and fractures and tremendous damage to my left leg and severe nerve pain. I spent three weeks in trauma and had surgery to insert rods into my pelvis before I was sent home. I remember the pain still to this day. I feel for you and am so very sorry.

I'm sharing my recovery plan in hopes it helps you:

8 weeks bedrest. I was told this is how long it takes for the bones to strengthen and for the fractures to heal.

Diet: I was told to increase my Vitamin D/Calcium intake and to eat meat. I am a vegetarian and this was hard to do but I did it. For the Vitamin D/Calcium, I used a powder form that I sprinkled in drinks/smoothies. I lost over 30 pounds in the hospital and was extremely frail when I came home.

Rehab: I wanted to go immediately but I was not cleared due to the severity of the accident. Unfortunately, until your bones are healed, you will have limited mobility. But rest is the absolute best form of rehab you can have.

Can you go to your local emergency room? They can't turn you away because you don't have insurance. Yes, you will have medical bills afterwards but you will have care, and hopefully, some meds to help you.

Wishing you a speedy recovery.

April 5, 2015 - 9:02pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

Same thing happened to me just last Nov, except that I had an external fix holding my pelvis together until Christmas. I was hospitalized for 2 months, completely bed ridden and was only discharged after I got onto the wheelchair. The trick here is not rush it - take more rests and up your protein intake as it helps tremendously on cutting down your healing time. Every doctors that saw me said that my external fix was gonna be in tact for AT LEAST 3 months and guess what? I got rid of it in 3.5 weeks.

Here are some helpful tips I've learned along my way to recovery (finally walking!):

1. Try to shift your position in bed every 2 hours to prevent bed sore. I couldn't sleep sideways either, but try to hold onto something and stay for few minutes before lying on your back again.

2. As your tailbone gets better, try to sit up slowly - 20 degrees, 30 and slowly get to 45 degrees. Your back will feel stretched for a few days, but that's okay!

3. Perform leg lifts, bicycle, knees bend and exercise your toes as much as you can to prevent blood clots and poor circulation.

Once you are able to stand on ground again, grab a chair, position next to your bed and practice walking a few steps here and there everyday. I started out with 3-5 steps everytime I have to get in the car, or the dining table. That was a month ago. Now I can walk everywhere by myself and everything feels so much more convenient now!

Since it's been a month since your post, I hope you're already strong enough to walk. Take one step at a time! And good luck on your road to recovery. :)

April 4, 2015 - 12:13am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

Curious if you ever tried to climb stairs and, if so, why? I would think that this is detrimental to the integrity of the reconstructed pelvic joint, since at least three times the stress is involved in climbing stairs, as compared to walking. There is almost no need to ever climb stairs, since most public facilities are accessible, although some transportation services, for example, haven't caught on yet.
I've tried to educate laypeople of this situation, but seem to get pushback, for some reason.

July 27, 2016 - 12:38pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

Excellent advice - especially about moving the toes, leg, body around to avoid blood clots.

April 5, 2015 - 9:03pm
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