Multiple fractures (human, not equine)

gelderlander

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Anyone else out there suffered the triple whammy of broken hip, vertebrae (lower back) and pelvis in one fall (I never do things by halves!) and how long before they got back in the saddle? I didn't have to have any ops, thankfully, and as I already had pins in the hip from a previous break, the hip is pretty stable. Any info, anyone?
 
No experience thankfully. Just wanted to say my greatest sympathies OP - what a horrific fall! I hope it was a chance accident and not a naughty horse you intend to ride again once repaired :)
 
No experience thankfully. Just wanted to say my greatest sympathies OP - what a horrific fall! I hope it was a chance accident and not a naughty horse you intend to ride again once repaired :)

Thank you for your kind message Yas. Wish I could say that it happened as I was jumping some huge cross-country fence but nothing so dramatic...just a green horse being cheeky as we were warming up for a dressage test!
 
Gosh unlucky you. I was only saying to a hacking partner the other day that I really cannot remember the last time I fell off a horse (and I am quite mature to say the least). She laughed and said she had said the same before a nasty fall in which she broke her shoulder :( It can happen to anyone at any time. That's horses for you.
 
Poor you, what a nightmare. I am still recovering from a broken hip (pinned and plated) in March and have just started gentle hacking. At first I thought I would be back on board very quickly but I eventually realised I should listen to the doctors and wait!
I am hoping to start competing in September as long as next X-ray is ok.
Good luck and don't rush back, it isn't worth it.
 
I've never had such rotten luck as that, it sounds absolutely terrible though. I am however recovering from a fractured vertebrae (L5) which happened wayyyyy back in the spring of this year. Although the fracture is stable and no ops were needed I am struggling with the physio exercises to re-strengthen my lower back and core muscles after the rest period. My back still hurts a lot with movement like mucking out and pulling out blasted ragwort and cantering is quite uncomfortable. I am not being silly and taking things very slowly, I'd much rather be bored and frustrated and 100% later this year than doing myself another injury and/or risk worsening the damage.

I was told not to ride for 6 weeks minimum and in the end I left it 8 weeks before I got back on for a short walked hack and have built it up from there very very slowly. Like I said, I find cantering still uncomfortable so I really am only doing walk and trot work at the moment so hacking out is ideal. I have also acquired an EXO Bodycage as I am now neurotic about breaking myself in half. It has certainly given me the confidence to get back on as at the start it was psychological rather than physical.

I wish you all the very best for a speedy recovery :)
 
Well, I'm just over 5 weeks in from my youngster rearing over and landing on me on the road, was told I had broken my back, pelvis and foot but turns out they got it wrong...old breaks!

I did suffer extremely bad bruising though and it is only in the last week or so that I have felt I might be able to ride soon realistically without doing myself more damage.

If that is how I feel after not breaking anything, goodness only knows how long it will take you to heal, let alone feel well enough to get back to it.

I am really sorry you had such a nasty fall, you poor thing. It sounds horrific so just rest up and don't try to rush through recovery....try to just let your body do things as and when it is ready.

Really wishing you the best xxx
 
Thank you everyone for your regards, and although I am (obviously!) missing riding, nothing is as good as being at home away from the orthopaedic ward, which was just such a soul-destroying experience, due to seeing the elderly confused ladies trying to cope with similar injuries. Full respect for the nurses at Frenchay Hospital.
 
Gosh, poor you, that sounds horrid.

What would the doctors say to you getting a treadmill, so you can build up gradual exercise at walk?
 
I can empathise, I'm not as battered as you but am two weeks in to having fractured my sacrum (lower back) in two places. I've been told no physical activity for at least 6 weeks and my plan is to do some physio before riding again - the thought of it at the moment is just urgh,.. too painful. My fall was stupid as well, just a spook in the arena - on a horse I've owned for 5yrs and never fallen off before.

Fingers crossed for a speedy recovery to us all!
 
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