Fractured pelvis (human) - any experiences?

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Oriel

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I fractured my pelvis 2 months ago - my horse bolted in the school. He went from walk to flat out in seconds and was about to jump the fence then decided against it, went sharply to the right flinging me violently over his hindquarters into the baseplate of the school fencing. The fence was broken with the force of it and so was my pelvis.

I was in terrible pain and it took an hour and a half to get me out of the school as the paramedics couldn't get a vein to give me morphine as I was so cold. Anyway I spent a week in the trauma unit after surgery to put a titanium bar from hip bone to hip bone and screw my back to it - basically I have a sort of internal cradle to hold everything in place.

The thing is two months down the line I'm still in a lot of pain - really searing hot pain from my right hip down into my groin. Both my thighs are also completely numb - they've been like this since the accident.

Has anyone had a similar injury and, if so, how long did it take to get back to normal?
 
not my own experience, but I know a lady who had an "open book" fracture of the pelvis and ended up being plated.

She took about a year to get back to anything like normal and was told never to ride a horse or bike again as any little thing (a pothole, or landing awkwardly in the saddle) could fracture her pelvis again, but it would be worse as it would be the back that would fracture not the front (as it's plated).... that said, I don't know whether she had other issues besides the fracture, as the accident was seemingly innocuous - The horse corkscrewed over a fence and she landed on the pommel. :(
 
I shattered part of my pelvis in a similar accident about five years ago, dislocating my hip in the process. I had an operation to install a metal plate and was on a transatlantic flight within a week (I was working in the US at the time and decided to come home to the UK to convalesce). I was walking with crutches within a month and back in the states doing a very active job with lots riding and teaching on my feet within twelve weeks. Although my pelvis was very painful at first, I now only feel a bit of pain at the site of my plate on odd occasions such as when the weather is cold or I've overdone it a bit. I would say that the level of pain you're feeling does sound quite intense and it might be worth getting a check-up to make sure everything is healing OK and/or see if they can suggest any kind of pain relief.
 
Thanks for your replies. I have quite a lot of medication - warfarin to prevent blood clots and various pain relief medication including morphine. I've had follow up appointments and it seems that everything is healing as it should be - its just so painful. I've been told that I might not get the feeling back in my thighs because of nerve damage - I'm hoping that this searing pain isn't going to be something I'm left with.
 
Sorry I broke my pelvis at the same time as poping my cartlidge out of my knee :( a few other crush injuries too as Ginger rolled on me a few times.... it was a catch 22.... they did not want to operate on the knee until the pelvis was healing.... it took 18 months all told.... 12 months to learn to walk again, physio several times a week - some times twice a day.... but it does get better :)
 
I had a horse rear and go over backwards and land in top of me. I broke vertebrae, my hip joint and my pelvis. I have had no problems once it had all healed. I was told I may have problems carrying and delivering a baby due to the pelvic brake, I have had 2 children with no problems. I ride with no problems, the worst I get is an ache in my hip when it is cold and I have been on my feet all day.
 
You should definately be going back to clinic as that much pain isn't normal in the healing. I almost wonder if the searing pain is nerve pain in which case it might be worth asking about having an MRI/CT scan to check whats going on. If it is nerve pain then morphine and such don't actually do that much it, there are much more effective pain killers for that type of pain so you need to go back and talk to them about finding out why you have so much pain and getting on top of it. Aside from anything else the pain level will be stopping you doing your physio properly.
 
mynutmeg - yes, I think the searing pain is nerve pain too as I've never experienced this type of pain before my accident.

I do have nerve damage - both thighs are numb because of it. The doctor has said that I may get some feeling back in time but to be honest it doesn't bother me too much - obviously it just feels very strange. I did have an MRI scan when I arrived in A&E I'm not sure if it was picked up then as I was pretty out of it.

I was given Gabapentin to relieve the nerve pain which I initially felt across the front of my injured area. The new pain is much more severe and going down into my groin. I just hope that I'm not going to be stuck with it.

I have another appointment with the surgeon later this month so will chat with him then but I just wondered how others' experiences compared with mine. Its hard to know what's normal and what isn't.

Thanks for the replies...
 
I had a fractured pelvis on my pubic bone. At first I couldn't weight bear on my right leg, but didn't have anything like the problems you're having.

My OH had a disc rupture causing nerve damage and had to have emergency spinal surgery. His symptoms were more like yours. IIWY I'd make a bit more noise at the hospital. Have you seen a neuro-surgeon? It doesn't sound right to me. :(

Hope you are feeling better soon, but do talk to the specialists if you haven't already.
 
Oriel said:
mynutmeg - yes, I think the searing pain is nerve pain too as I've never experienced this type of pain before my accident.

I do have nerve damage - both thighs are numb because of it. The doctor has said that I may get some feeling back in time but to be honest it doesn't bother me too much - obviously it just feels very strange. I did have an MRI scan when I arrived in A&E I'm not sure if it was picked up then as I was pretty out of it.

I was given Gabapentin to relieve the nerve pain which I initially felt across the front of my injured area. The new pain is much more severe and going down into my groin. I just hope that I'm not going to be stuck with it.

I have another appointment with the surgeon later this month so will chat with him then but I just wondered how others' experiences compared with mine. Its hard to know what's normal and what isn't.

Thanks for the replies...
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very much difficult to know whats normal - I've got a bit of a wound infection at the moment following ankle surgery and to me it's taking a very long time to clear but no-one else seems concerned and like you am unsure if this is normal or not.

Are you still on the gabapentin? If not get back on to it, if you are then there are other ones such as pregabalin (not sure on spelling) and amitryptaline which are also effective against nerve pain.

I'm I reading right in that the searing pain has developed fairly recently? In which case have you seen your surgeon since it developed? If not then phone the hospital and explain and they will bring your appointment forward as new things like that do need checked sooner rather than later
 
mynutmeg said:
very much difficult to know whats normal - I've got a bit of a wound infection at the moment following ankle surgery and to me it's taking a very long time to clear but no-one else seems concerned and like you am unsure if this is normal or not.

Are you still on the gabapentin? If not get back on to it, if you are then there are other ones such as pregabalin (not sure on spelling) and amitryptaline which are also effective against nerve pain.

I'm I reading right in that the searing pain has developed fairly recently? In which case have you seen your surgeon since it developed? If not then phone the hospital and explain and they will bring your appointment forward as new things like that do need checked sooner rather than later
Click to expand...

Yes I'm still on gabapentin. I did have the same pain early on with the injury but it was across my pubic bone area and going across to each side near my hip bones. This pain is more severe and has come on recently.

I'm going to phone the hospital and ask them to bring my appointment forward or at least ask to have a chat with the surgeon on the phone.

I hope your wound infection clears up quickly.
 
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