My husband fell off a roof yesterday- broken pelvis

[SmileyClare]

Dh fell from a roof yesterday at work and has terrible injuries. An unstable break in two places to his pelvis and a broken arm. At the moment he's on an orthopaedic ward and can't walk and is in agony.

He's expected to have surgery in a few days on his pelvis. I'm absolutely worried sick about how he'll cope with the recovery (expected 3 months), him not working (self employed builder) and whether he'll ever be the same again.
I don't earn much and, we have teenage children.

I'd love to hear some positive recovery stories from others who have experience of pelvic fractures or just some advice from anyone. I'm sick with worry.

Actually dh is taking 2 weeks off from today as he is so knackered trying to meet site targets. He is seriously thinking about giving up roofing. This may in the long run be good for your husband, I really hope so.

Urgh yes motherof3dogs the impossible site targets! It's a lot of pressure making up for time lost due to covid and now Brexit making supplies more difficult, dh was knackered too. I don't want to get too bitter, everyone has their own challenges in life I suppose.

Enjoy your 2 weeks off with your husband x

I know this is incredibly serious, and I’m so sorry you’re dealing with this situation, OP, but maybe a tiny bit of levity will help. My friend was in a car accident and broke his pelvis. I know they had to put some hardware in it, but I admit that I’m not exactly sure how much as he was fairly private about his medical things after the initial injury; I just visited him in hospital and helped him with physio. What I remember VERY clearly is that apparently, a doctor told him women with broken pelvises have a much more difficult time using the toilet afterward and may stay catheterized longer or have to use a bedpan painfully, whereas my friend was able to just basically go into a bottle that attached to the handle of the bed fairly soon. He was still on painkillers at the time, but I remember him looking deeply into my eyes and saying VERY seriously, almost of the verge of joyful tears....
“RightYesButNo, I’m so glad I have a penis.”

Ha yes his penis is still intact. I actually picked up a cardboard tube thing and held it to my mouth when I visited and told him he can use it as a victory trumpet when he's told he can come home.

He said, erm Clare that's what I wee in you might want to put that down...

There was another man on the ward with a broken pelvis. They drew the curtains and we heard terrible groaning noises . Apparently he was trying to do a poo and its agony with that injury. The nurse came out saying Never mind we can try again tomorrow.

Sorry you're having to cope with all this.

My dad had a fall a couple of years ago aged 81 and suffered compression fractures to 4 vertebrae. No surgery but a back brace, 4 weeks in hospital and 3 in a rehabilitation centre.

Don't worry about buying any equipment yet. The occupational therapy team should come and assess your home when he's nearing readiness for discharge and provide whatever equipment you need. It sounds like he won't need a hospital bed but I'd still wait a little...maybe research but don't buy anything until a bit nearer the time when you have a better idea of his needs.

A physio may well come out to your home initially.

I would think you would also potentially qualify for 12 weeks of carer visits up to 4 times a day on the NHS if your DH needs help with mobility and personal care for a while.

My dad was about 5'4 and 6 stone by the end (not directly related to the accident btw). We had him at home until about 7 weeks before he passed and it was difficult to move him safely even at that size so do make sure you get help if you need it.

Hope his surgery goes well and he makes a speedy recovery

@SoddingWeddings

If he went up a ladder to look at something, as opposed to accessing the roof, that would still be a safe method of access btw.

@SmileyClare: don't miss this post from @SoddingWeddings. It might change the financial stuff a lot, and you did say he went up to look...

I’m so sorry this had happened - it’s terrifying how quickly things can change. I hope healing is straightforward.

Is he a member of a union? I imagine building sites are generally not unionised, but if he is they may have funds to support members in difficulties like this.

My uncle fell off a ladder with a chainsaw that severed his muscles in his hand. Although the repair has been okay he can no longer working on building sites as he doesn’t have the strength & dexterity. Very difficult.

Do say yes to help, even if it is not now but when he comes out of hospital. Let people to meal trains for you if that helps. Women are generally better at doing this than men but if his friends can help you, do let them.

Down the road, look at what foods will help with his healing and delaying any onset of arthritis. Healthy raw fats, collagen from bones and sea weed, lots of green vegetables. www.arthritis.org/health-wellness/healthy-living/nutrition/anti-inflammatory/the-ultimate-arthritis-diet

Christ awful accidents here. District sorry about your uncle. It's a big reminder that we're not invincible and building sites are particularly dangerous. That's probably why the personal injury insurance is so expensive.

I have everything crossed that we can claim although not looking too hopeful. His accountant seemed to think there might be something under "partial blame".

MintyCedric I'm sorry about your dad. It's hopefully a comfort that he was able to come home

I will take your advice before buying any equipment. I nearly had a heart attack looking at the price of hospital beds. Looking more at buying a pressure relief mattress (if we need to).

Back to work six months later but at 23 I guess healing is quicker. Credits physio for his recovery.

That's some impressive hardware there gardener it's amazing what surgeons can do really. Great to hear some positive recovery stories

@SmileyClare

That's really helpful. Although he's 52 he is fairly fit, not overweight but he's a big tall lump. I am a bit worried about being able to manhandle him in and out of bed as I'm much smaller. It's slightly more difficult as he has a right distal radial break to his arm so that makes taking weight on his arms difficult.

The OT I spoke to briefly definitely said I have to organise a bed for him downstairs with a supportive mattress although they will provide other aids to help him, a chair or commode I think? I will speak to them again to clarify this. I'm a bit all over the place with all the information.

Push back to OT to say they need to organise any bed and equipment needs or arrange rehab until he can manage independently at home. If you start buying or hiring items in they will absolve themselves of responsibility and it will soon become very expensive.

Thinking out loud here : if he’s a contractor there should be things in place that would have prevented him from ‘nipping onto the roof’.

The company he’s working for still need to report to HSE as he’s been seriously injured at their site, contractor or employee - it’s a legal duty, I’d make sure this was done.

If there’s negligence on the principle contractor then there may be a case for a claim but any recompense will be reduced due to contributory negligence (he knew what he was doing)

I hope that he recovers well!

Ok I think OT are going to be in touch so I'm going to attempt to be assertive with them!

Dh is a bit worried about pointing fingers saying his name will be mud in the industry. It's all about who you know and getting your foot in the door with these big building contractors because he's self employed. It's worth considering that avenue I suppose. He's going to give the insurance company the facts and see what they say .

Tell OT/discharge that you will have to increase your job hours now DH isn't working so you won't be available for care. That will help secure the package PP refers to above. (You don't have to increase your hours, just intend to!).

Don’t google OP.

He should make full recovery after some rehab and physio.

My mum late 80s and in poor health fell and broke her pelvis badly. Hospital very pessimistic about chances of recovery and initially didn’t want to operate.

Needed walker for toilet for first month after operation and physio twice weekly. After six weeks was back on her feet walking with stick. After 12 weeks walking fine with no stick and able to carry shopping bags in each hand.

Financially - if you have mortgage you could ask about going interest only for a year or mortgage holiday.

The “free” NHS support pp have mentioned varies from trust to trust in terms of time and is definitely needs based. The ward OT will have info on what’s available or needed for your husband when the time comes in that regard.

Equipment wise- if the OT deems it necessary for a bed to be downstairs and if it needs to be a hospital bed I would absolutely advise that you push back and get them to order one over you buying.

The company need to report to HSE as he's been seriously injured on their site

Yes. Speaking to dh today (a bit more lucid now) he said because it was pouring with rain when he fell, his work mates got him onto an office chair and wheeled him under cover whilst someone phoned for help.
They're all his mates and I suppose they panicked. All the first aid training seemed to go out the window when an accident actually happened.
It was quite strange when they knocked on my door with cards and some money the next day. Big burly builders all upset with tears in their eyes.

I just had a courier turn up with a raised toilet seat and commode. Very strange as they were going to ring first. I asked if that is all we're getting but he was just a delivery driver. Will have to get in touch with OT again.

Pelvic surgery is planned for Monday. They're not sure exactly what they'll do with the trickier fracture on one side. They're calling it "exploratory surgery" gulp.

Thanks again for your supportive messages. They're keeping me going when I'm quietly panicking at home!

So sorry to read this. I don’t have practical advice but just to say my son broke his femur about 18 months ago - he had a plate fitted and removed about a year later and is fine now - and I had a big mental health wobble a few weeks later. I thought it was just work stress (there was work stress) but with hindsight I can see his accident had a big impact. So please try to take care of yourself and let other people take care of you too. It’s a big shock when something like that happens to someone you love xx

Try to have someone with you when he’s in surgery if you can. It sounds like you can’t be at the hospital (I was with my son). The surgery took much longer than expected because they tried ‘plan A’ and it didn’t work so they had to move to ‘plan B’ (thankfully they didn’t reach ‘plan C’). The waiting was hard so having someone with you us a distraction at least. And eat cake.

Thanks PeterPomegranate Sorry about your son, it does feel a bit like a bad dream at the moment and I think I'm just really stressed about everything. I feel like I have a permanent lump in my throat. I understand what you're saying.

I can visit but strictly for one hour appointment only and no one else (covid restriction) It's a three hour round trip to the hospital so I've only visited him twice poor sod. Thankfully he has a mobile.

Hi OP, so sorry to read this. Just to add my positive story ..., my 90 year old mother broke her pelvis in three places in January. She lives alone and was in hospital for a month (no visitors allowed). They had intended to operate but didn't in the end. Before she went home, my sister and I turned her ground floor into a bed sit, everything there except a bath. We bought a shower attachment for the utility room sink though. The hospital supplied a care package of physio, lunch for a week (which she opted to extend), we bought a lifeline for her (obviously you won't need that), a Zimmer frame, special chair, walking sticks etc. Then occupational health did a tour of her house and made suggestions, most of which she rejected.
Anyway for weeks now, you wouldn't know that anything had happened to her. She's up and down stairs, walks miles with me, keeps a stick mainly to emphasise her point (imperiously) and is planning her 91st birthday away.

Wishing your husband a speedy recovery.

My dad (who would be 81 if he was still with us) fell off a roof similar to how you describe in his early 30's. He had a very tough year but did eventually recover and was still working as a builder into his 60's. I'm so so sorry you are having to endure this, what a terrible thing to happen.

Was it his site or was he working as a sub contractor?

Does he have any insurances that might cover him in place?

I'm sorry to hear this. Hope things get brighter.

Ask for a copy of the RIDDOR report... Important you understand what saying to the HSE and that they are reporting it...