Cayteey

I crashed my bike yesterday, with my left side taking the impact: hip, wrist, and elbow. Lost a lot of skin and in the hours afterward soreness developed and I realized I had a useless wrist and can't walk normally, stemming from the leg socket area (i think). Because of the distance back to my car, I rode another 20 miles, with no hip pain at all, but the fact that I can't walk without a limp now concerns me. It doesn't hurt really at all but sort of buckles under me. Anyone have a fracture in their hip/pelvis, and can tell me what to look for? Any other injuries you can get in that area from this sort of impact? (Trying to go to a doc, of course...)

First crash, btw. It sucks.

Marcus_Ti

Not having been a victim of a snapped pelvis...but knowing a roadie mate who fractured their pelvis....you wouldn't be able to ride or walk.

popeye

I have seen someone ride home with a broken pelvis after hitting a tree.

RollCNY

You might not know. I know someone (just finished a ride with him, in fact) that broke his pelvis last year and ran and rtode on it for three weeks. If you are concerned, get it checked out.

Looigi

I thought I might have broken my hip once because I couldn't even crawl. X-rays and MRI said it was just a bruised hip socket. It took about 6 weeks to graduate from a wheelchair, to a walker, crutches, cane, and fully back to normal. The first doc had me try to put weight on it, which I was able to do but only very very gradually and not much. From that he guessed it wasn't broken, but sent me to and ortho guy further tests were ordered.

halfspeed

There are multiple places a pelvis might break with different potential outcomes. See a doctor, get an x-ray. The medical advice you get here is worth pretty much what you pay for it.

linnefaulk

Fractures can be small. Severe pain or lasting more than a few days should be checked out.

RNAV

I've broken my pelvis (t-boned by a Chevy box truck). In my case, it was the most excruciating pain I've ever experienced in my life, and I couldn't even move my leg without nearly passing out. But just because I broke my pelvis doesn't mean you broke yours in exactly the same place, and to exactly the same degree.

Like others have suggested, go see a doc and get an X-ray . . . that's the only way to know for sure.

spdracr39

After you visit the Doctor you would know. I would go there immediately instead of wasting time on the computer.

jwarner

Go see a doc please. The longer you wait, the worse the worse the outcome, and more expensive this problem can become

Every injury is different in term of pain and resulting range of motion, and every person has a different tolerance for pain. As a ski patroller, I've seem strong healthy young athletes pass out from a sprained thumb, and a 14-year old girl get up and try to walk on a closed femur fracture because it "it didn't hurt that bad."

Hoping it isn't that bad, and that you heal soon.

rpenmanparker 

That's what x-rays are for. Unless you have no medical insurance, there is really no reason to not have yourself fully checked out after a severe crash whether you can walk normally or not. In this case, it just has to be done no matter what.

deacon mark

I am a runner and had 2 stress fractures of the pelvis over 24 years ago. The 1st one I actually could run on after a week did not know I had the stress fx. Then second one I really could not do much and even walk the dog. !2 weeks later I managed a run and was ok. Get an xray for sure.

StanSeven

Yep. I've had friends with hip stress fractions. One felt like it was a minor injury until he had an MRI - X-ray didnt show it. The other could barely move.

There was a video or a pro crashing a couple years ago. He immediately know it.

bikepro

I agree. You would notice a fracture immediately. You likely have some bruising and other muscle soreness. This take a few hours to manifest. Here's probably all you need: RICE is best for Soft Tissue Injuries

Dave Cutter

I never know what to do! I generally go by the adage "when in doubt... see the doctor". But now my healthcare insurance also offers a "call a nurse" advice line (phone).

I think one of the great things about cycling and all sports... are they toughen you up. We are somewhat forced to suck-it-up and walk-off the pain.

Machka 

Stop "trying" ... and go!

Go to the Emergency Dept. Go to a Walk-in Clinic.

We are not Drs.

Rich11111

Fractured bones are typically very painful so I suspect you would know how likely a fracture is. From a practical stand point one has to ask what would i do if i had a fractured pelvis?
The only thing an MRI of a pelvis would tell you is how long a recovery will be needed. There is likely no surgery that would be required since a fracture IF present is usually nondisplaced with the bone and time will heal the fracture. The only treatment would be to take it easy for 6 weeks which is how long a fracture takes to heal. Once again be practical and listen to your body and if pain occurs back off with activity since if fracture present you could develop a nonunion fracture. If finances are a problem rest for 6 weeks. If you have insurance get an MRI for peace of mind and to know how long to take it easy. I disagree with prior post that we are not Drs. That poster can only speak for himself. All I can say is I did not exam you.

carpediemracing 

I fractured my pelvis in two spots in a crash. In my instance the fractures were caused by someone hitting my leg and moving it beyond my regular range of motion. The excess movement cracked the pelvis in two spots (where muscles apparently anchor).

It basically felt like someone was stabbing me with a sword up between my inner thigh and my pelvis, insane pain. After the crash I actually got carted away in an ambulance but the ER staff didn't consider my insane hip pain worthy of examination, they thought it was cramping muscles. The next day it took me about 20 minutes to get about 15 feet to go to the bathroom while holding onto the Missus for support, the pain was just crazy and I broke down. Next day I went to the doc for follow up after the ER visit, they immediately sent me to a radiology lab, I was x-rayed, and they found the fractures.

Treatment? Wheelchair for a while, then a cane (I hurt my shoulder so no crutches possible), and that was it. No other things possible since it was just a "wait 6-8 weeks for the bone to heal" (it was 8 weeks for me) then wait another 8-12 weeks for the pain to go away (it was 12 weeks for me before I didn't notice any pain in the pelvis area while riding). If my shoulder was okay it would have been crutches to keep weight off.

OldTryGuy

1st-Welcome newbie

2nd and more important-HOW'S the BIKE!!!!!!

3rd-no experience with pelvis just C-6, arm, clavicle, finger, toe, ribs

ButchA

A fractured pelvis? You'd know it immediately!

My oldest sister is a big time horse enthusiast in upstate New York and has 9 horses on the farm. Anyway, while she and her "horse people" friends were all practicing for an upcoming horse show, one of the riders got thrown from a horse. The lady didn't just fall off... She got THROWN! My sister said the lady went right up in the air, did a somersault, and came back down and landed right on her butt with her legs straight out. She fell backwards onto her back and just laid there screaming her lungs out!

Well, my sister is a retired ICU nurse, and knew instantly what to do and how to help the lady. Anyway to make a long story short, the lady broke her coccyx (sp?) (i.e. the tailbone), broke her pelvis, and compressed two vertebrae in the lumbar region. I think my sister said it too a full year for the lady to heal up! But then again, my sister said the lady was never quite the same again and has a slight hunched over walk now instead of standing/walking perfectly upright. The lady also has not been on a horse since either...

valygrl

My sister fractured her pelvis and waited 3 days before seeing a doc, because she didn't know. Hope you saw a doctor. Tell us how it went?

Pibber

Dude, after breaking six ribs and my coracoid process (google that) in an accident three minths ago, I don't know how you'd not know if you had broken your pelvis. Maybe some deep tissue bruising......heck, I don't know.


Go see a doctor.

Pibber

Dude, after breaking six ribs and my coracoid process (google that) in an accident, I don't know how you'd not know if you had broken your pelvis. Maybe some deep tissue bruising......heck, I don't know.


Go see a doctor.

Cayteey

OK, thank you for all the responses! I knew there were a million pelvic injuries out there.

I went to the ER yesterday and had the whole left side of my body and the pelvis x-rayed. No fractures. Its like winning the lottery. The doc says maybe the elbow and it didn't show up and put me in the splint. I still can't walk normally but its better, and I'll take it if its just bruised insides and a layer of skin removed.

Next time, if ever, I'm going right to the ER after a crash that like. I didn't bang my head but its like I did. If I had been with friends they probably would have been able to do my thinking for me, while I was in shock...

I think the bike is basically fine. The frame is carbon and it _looks_ okay, but I'm taking it in. At minimum, I couldn't change the big gear after that so something is wonky. If the bike has any major damage, I'll be bummed: it was a lucky craigslist find that is not likely to happen a second time.

Bob Ross

That would depend on how badly they fractured their pelvis; my wife crashed ~2 years ago and it took 6 weeks before the doctors were able to determine that she'd fractured her pelvis (in three spearate places!). But they were minor fractures, and so while she was in a lot of discomfort, it didn't prevent her from walking...either for the 6 weeks before that diagnosis, or after.