Quality of life after a traumatic hip fracture at 20.
Posted , 7 users are following.
I, sadly and unfortunately under cruel circumstances, sustained a fracture to my (L) hip at 20 years old. An emergency internal fixation did not fix the problem but gave me some sort of mobility. Several years post incident a THR was done. A few years later, a fall on the THR wedged the stem. Multiple bone grafts over time somehow kept the joint propped up.
I am still around but the journey has not been an easy one. Anyone out there with a slightly similar story? Would you care to share experiences?
1 like, 15 replies
patricia1953 justone
Posted
I don't know how old you are now, but I'm hoping that you are not suffering too muc or have some sort of pain relief....also I'm hoping that you have some support from family and friends...it is not easy to go through health issues alone.
You will find lots of support, compassion and advice on this site......
eileen64__UK justone
Posted
I'm so sorry you are having such an awful time.
20 was so young to have problems to start with
Dont know what age you are now but I hope things are a bit more stable for you now.
The nearest I can come to that is in my 60's I had a 2nd THR, weeks post op I fractured the greater trochanter bone. I bit of bone snapped and has moved away from the other bit of bone so there is no way it will ever heal.
I'm now on crutches permanently
Love
Eileen UK
hope4cure eileen64__UK
Posted
I am Very sorry to hear of UR situation. Isn't there any way they can do a bone graft or metal plate to repair the break in the bone?
It seems like there must be some specialist out there who could help you and get you off crutches.
Arnold Swartzeneeger ( sp) had broke his hip implant thru the bone while skiing. The implant broke thru the femur bone. He had grafts and a steel plate to repair it. He was in a cast from hip to toe . He is a actor in the US . He is in his 60's still makes movies. Look him up for his hip story. Perhaps there is something to help you get help for a repair for your hip implant.
Kind Regards
Hope
eileendoffy justone
Posted
I fractured and dislocated my right hip and sustained eleven other fractures in a car accident when I was 22 years old. I was the victim of another drivers stupidity. He overtook four cars on a blind bend and my vehicle was hit head on. The prognosis after the accident was not a bright one for me but I have the sort of character that made me determined to prove the medical staff wrong. I could no longer follow my chosen career but have gone on to lead a fulfilled life and gave birth naturally to two healthy children when I had been told that this would probably never happen. I'm now 61 years old. I haven't worked for the past five months because the sites of my injuries are now beginning to cause me serious problems. I am due to have hip replacement surgery on my right hip shortly followed by the left hip later on. My spine has twisted due to walking awkwardly for all these years so I have back pain. I fractured my wrist in the accident and it wasn't aligned correctly before setting so I have had limited use in it ever since. I now have frozen shoulder which can happened in a limb that has been fractured. For the first time since the accident I had recently begun to feel bitterness towards the person who caused my pain and suffering but soon realised that this wasn't helping me to get through it all. I started to list all the positive things that had happened to me as a result of the accident. For example I met my husband of 38 years because he was a Police Officer who attended the accident and followed my case up afterwards. We have a son and a daughter and three young granddaughters who although we cannot see them very often because of distance I keep in touch with by phone and through sending them gifts bought on line as going shopping is quite difficult for me at present. After the accident I suffered from depression for five years. My parents strongly opposed my marriage and wanted to nurse and protect me after the accident. One of the things that really helped me later on was a course of CBT, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. What i learnt on the course gets me back on track when I feel that life is a real struggle. It is important to find the therapist who is the right one for you. I changed after one session due to my husband's prompting. In the area where I was living at the time I could self refer or be referred by my GP and the NHS waiting list was not too long. I do feel for you. Personally,I have found that each time I've had surgery as a result of the accident it hasn't got any easier. It is a means to hopefully increased mobility or less pain. This will be the first time I've had more hip surgery since the accident but other parts have needed it since then!
I wish you all the very best and do hope that you find something here that helps you.
Love from another Eileen in the UK!
hope4cure eileendoffy
Posted
That's a story of health injury and recovery from an accident . You have shown a lot of determination and strength thru it all. Knowing when to get help is key and learning that life can be a full and happy as we make thru it all UR courage is inspiring. Thank u for sharing your story!
Kind Regards
3 time THR
HOPE
eileen64__UK hope4cure
Posted
Wait for this.....you'll think I'm mad {you might be right}
You know I'm on crutches permanently? Right......we've been to Venice 3 times before and love it. I would love to go back BUT....there is no transport. except boats that act as buses. Not even a mobility scooter allowed
That would solve a lot of problems.
So I've been thinking about it long and hard and have set myself a goal.
VENICE IN MAY next year {both our birthdays} so that gives me time to work it out.
I've thought of lots of ways, then discarded them for one reason or another. Eventually someone {a friend} came up with an idea of a very light wheelchair {never had a wheelchair before} you can hire light ones over there. She says walk and push it, then sit down for a while if you are tired. Eventually if you are really tired, sit in it and let Peter push me {for a short time}
She has a 4 wheel walker with a seat but also has a wheelchair and if she is out for a long time takes the wheel chair and pushes it most of the way.
So tomorrow I'm going into our Metro Centre {shopping centre} and getting a light wheelchair,{on loan} and going to push it....not very far...maybe the first cafe
sit down and push it back again. I'm going to try that at least once a week and then see if its a possibility for all day in Venice. Gradually getting further each time....but remembering I have to walk the same distance back to my car
Because its a fracture at the top of my leg I need a lot of support...like 2 crutches and at the moment when I push a trolley the opposite side gets sore after a short time.
We'll see.......any suggestions are welcome LOL
Sorry that was a ramble and completely off topic
Love
Eileen
patricia1953 eileen64__UK
Posted
What a women!!! you are an inspiration to all....much like the energizer bunny, you just keep going and going...good for you....Venice in the spring - very romantic you little devil...
Patricia (still shovelling the white stuff)
eileen64__UK patricia1953
Posted
I'm not planning going until May next year......2016......I couldnt go now. Not the way I feel. Just setting a goal and determined to get there LOL
Venice is fantiastic but I was never on crutches beefore.....I did have arthritis but it was before either of my THR's
It's a pain that they dont allow even mobility scooters.....so its your 2 feet
Love
Eileen
hope4cure eileen64__UK
Posted
Can UR doctor write a prescription for UR walker. Mine did .. Also a handicap parking permit is useful ask the doctor for one. You can get a temporary one or a year. They are renewed every year. That way u park near the store and your not warn out before u get in the store. LOL
So set up a good surgeon to get u thru this. Then you can have a great insentive to travel to Venice. Sounds beautiful.
Also grocery stores have rider carts I use then sometime when I am really hurting & tied. Some stores are huge so it a necessity. I have three THR. and I still am in pain and can't do a lot of walking at once. So UR idea for the sit down type walker I have seen them around sounds really helpful.
Kind Regards
HOPE
hope4cure patricia1953
Posted
Yikes can ya get a snow blower..... They are so much cheaper than they used to be and easier on the joints.i just shovel horse poop now! LOL.
I lived in Colorado for over 20 years. Some winters we would open the garage door and it was white wall. I have messed up my back shoveling younger. Then we got a snow blower it 's magic.... No pain. Good healthy exercise without the back pain.
the snow storms back east have been brutal.
Take Care and watch those snow the road snow blowers they can bury you on the road.
i would just stay behind one in a snow storm.
Stay warm. And don't over do!
HOPE
eileen64__UK hope4cure
Posted
Just come back in...right lets see.....I've got my own walker...four wheels and a seat, the seat lifts up and a wire basket underneath to hold your bag or a few things. The only thing is with this being a fracture on one side I find using te walker now is hard...I have to lean so heavily on one side I get really sore....I'm trying that off and on when hubby is with me.
We call them blue badges......they last for 3 years and mine is due to expire in November so I'll have to send of for one a few months before that.....they are tightening up on that because so many people are mis-using them.
I just wish in Venice we wer allowed our car to put the badge in....but no...not even a mobility scooter.
No tyraffic of any sort unless you are pushing it or using crutches. Its such an old city its not disable friendly but its lovely.
Yes some of our stores have those....I've always been scared because the store ones are so big.
We have a shopping centre where we can hire them for the day.....just an ordinary mobility scooter with basket on front and I take a rucksack in and attach it to the back of it
so i can put afew things in
Then I have my own scooter.....but cant get it in my car, to heavy for me to balance and dismantle it and put it in.....so its used when Peter and i are out if its necessary.
So Venive hire out wheelchairs, so thats the only thing I could have and walk and push it......then if I got tired I've got a seat or Peter could push it for a short distance
Thanks for all your information
Love
Eileen
AlexandriaGizmo eileendoffy
Posted
I'm sure your no longer on site as I tried to send you a message and it didn't go anywhere, did u like me have no surgery? Would love to speak to anyone who didn't have surgery for fractured hip.
hope4cure justone
Posted
I am sorry to hear you had gon thru so much pain. THR is tough enough without all the complications u described.
i hope you have recovered completely and have a good standard of mobility.
You are lucky to have had good surgeons and care. Hope you are doing well now with a good quality of life!
kind regards
3 time THR
HOPE
ilovemyfather justone
Posted
MarcoPolo2 justone
Posted
Hello, i am a 23 year old male who unfortunately was in a motorcycle accident leaving me with more than 50% of my body fractured including my pelvis which was shattered into 3 pieces. I was in a coma for two weeks due to a very traumatic injury. Being in a coma feels like your dreaming,seeing things or people that aren't there. It took me a couple of months to learn how to walk again. I'm still attending physical therapy.It's been really hard for me on this painful journey, But i have to keep moving forward with life. The best thing i can recommend to any people out there with pelvic fractures or just in general , to try to stay active. 1 step is better than nothing. It's been 1 year and 2 months since my fracture, i occasionally use a cane . I'm starting to feel more normal.