Pelvic and sacrum fractures...two weeks and counting

[Cyclegalnyc]

Misery loves company...please share with me if you've dealt with this. I crashed hard Feb. 4, head and right side crashing into a "7"- shaped guardrail. Bike, of course, was completely protected.
I sustained nondisplaced fractures to the superior and inferior pubis and a fracture of the right side of the sacrum. I was told it was nonweight-bearing and to NOT sit or lay on the couch all day. I've been letting my pain be my guide. Tomorrow is two weeks and the difference is amazing, but I cannot find ANY info through searches as to putting ANY weight on my feet. The docs in the ER were clear: weight with use of crutches (or at first a walker) is fine. Have any of you gals dealt with a similar issue? I'm going for a followup on Thurs., but would love to hear your experiences.
M

[Irulan]

DH broke his collar and pelvis in a mtb crash. The pelvic fracture was non displaced, but he could not use a pair of crutches due to the collarbone. He was in a wheelchair for three weeks. He then had to use one crutch. But every situation is different.

[emily_in_nc]

I had a fracture from the outer edge of my right ilium clear through to the sacrum from a bike wreck in '05 (also 2 pubis fractures like yours). I had surgery for the ilial fracture with a plate and four pins to keep everything together. I was totally non-weight bearing (per surgeon's orders) on the right side for eight weeks. Used a walker and wheelchair at first and slept in a hospital bed with trapeze in our living room since I couldn't do stairs. Graduated to crutches towards the end of the 8-week period, but hated them. Walked crutch-free after 9 weeks, with a limp. That's when I went back to work. I had in-home PT the first 8 weeks, then in the PT's office for a good while after that.

I hope that you won't have lasting pain from this injury. I have had achy pain on long, hilly bike rides on the back side of my ilium or sacrum ever since. It's worse when I am in a more aerodynamic position, less when sitting more upright. A TENS unit helped once I finally tried that, years later. But I can hike, walk, and run pain-free, a real blessing.

Good luck, and feel free to ask more questions -- I am typing this in a rush as we're about to head out the door. So VERY sorry this happened to you!

[Irulan]

ER docs are not orthopedists, so if it were me I'd see what the specialist has to say about weight etc.

[Cyclegalnyc]

Thanks for the shares, guys. I have an appt with an orthopaedist on Thursday. It's two weeks today and I feel a bit stronger every day. I miss the bike!!!

[Owlie]

I have nothing to offer but gentle hugs and healing vibes.

[NbyNW]

I had a very similar injury in 2006 -- non displaced spiral fracture through S1 and S2 nerve exits on the right side, and hairline fracture on inferior pubis (I think).

Rx was 6 weeks of bedrest. I was told NOT to sleep on my side. I could sit in a reclining position to work at my computer or watch TV, and sit up for brief periods to eat. Oh, and I could sit in the shower. I used a walker at first. 3 weeks out my ortho told me I could start to put 50% weight on the injured side, which was a joke .... all of my walking muscles had forgotten what to do by that point. I think around 5-6 weeks I was cleared to start PT.

Do everything your PT tells you. Even if it's boring or if it hurts. They will get you walking again.

I had pain for a long time. Upwards of 2 years. A lot of it to do with alignment problems, strong side compensating for weak side, etc. It can be frustrating at times, but be patient and your body will heal. Regular massage helped, Pilates helped, and I also had a good cranial osteopath to help with the various alignment issues that resulted from this injury.

With any serious injury you will probably work in some maintenance routines in order to keep being able to do what you want to do. Work it in to how you train and condition yourself, and how you recover from workouts. The injury rarely bothers me anymore, except that it flared up in my final month of pregnancy last year.

Good luck with the healing, and feel free to PM me if you have any questions or just want to talk about how it's going.