Day 76 "Depressed And Worried About My Mom"

Today my mood has been really low.  I slept just about all day.  I was just depressed and upset about my Mom.  She sustained a broken pelvis in the car accident she was in last Saturday and I worry she’s never going to be right again.  The doctor told her that it would take about six to eight weeks to heal but that’s just an estimate.  Mom and I don’t always see eye to eye on things and sometimes argue about the dumbest things but we both love each other a lot and I just want her to get better.

I read that a broken pelvis is one of the most serious conditions a victim of a vehicle accident can endure.  The pelvis is the ring-like structure of bones at the lower end of the trunk which cradle and protect the lower digestive tract.  Even a small fracture from an accident can cause the victim unbearable pain.  More severe breaks do not only affect the bone, but can damage the delicate internal organs shielded and protected by the pelvis.   The pelvis takes a great deal of time to heal, and during that time eating, moving, and sleeping often become sources of agony.  The healing time for a broken pelvis is anywhere from 6 to 12 weeks depending on the overall health and age of the person affected.

Facts about a broken pelvis

• Almost 60% of all broken pelvises are caused by high impact vehicle accidents.
• Victims of fractured pelvises usually have peripheral injuries such as head, chest, abdomen, and genitourinary trauma.
• Multiple organ damage is also a common aspect of broken pelvises, and 40% of people die of hemorrhaging.
• Overall, the fatality rate for pelvic fractures is estimated to be as high as 55%.
• Surgery generally follows broken pelvises between 24 to 72 hours after the accident.

Treating a broken pelvis is a very expensive regimen of rehabilitation and medication.  Many X-rays are needed, and depending on the condition of the victim and the severity of the injury, surgery is often a requirement to repair the damage.  Screws, bolts and metal plates facilitate the healing of the bones, but do not make the recuperating process any easier for the victim.

Treatments for fractured pelvises

• Bed rest.
• Pain control management of symptoms.
• Isolation of potential complications such as deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, pneumonia, constipation, and infection.
• Proper nutrition rehabilitation.

So from what I've read my Mom has a long road a head of her to recovery.  As hard as it is for me to take care of myself I need to help my Mom by doing the grocery shopping, cleaning the house, doing her laundry, making sure she eats, and takes her medications.  I hope that Guardian Angel that was with her the day of the accident is sticking around for a while. 




Normal pelvis. Click to enlarge.



Broken pelvis. Click to enlarge.