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.

Also, I would really recommend that he speaks to an insurance solicitor (not personal injury). They will understand the policies in place that might cover him. Sometimes it's how you present things and the insurers will just try to say you are not covered when actually he might be.

No it isnt his site. He was working in the role of third in command site assistant but as self employed. It's a bit of a legal loophole construction sites use to employ staff without actually "employing" them so they side step having to provide pensions, sick pay, holiday pay etc.
It doesn't look likely his personal injury insurance will pay out due to breaching safety and proper risk assessments of hazards before going on the roof.
Your dad sounds like he was made of strong stuff, it gives me hope.

Huntingofthesnark go your mum! It sounds as though her stubborn streak helped her recovery Dh is pretty stubborn, maybe it will help him too.

Will ask about RIDDOR report,. Thanks this is all really helpful.

DD2 22 broke her pelvis in 3 places in a car accident. It’s very shocking at the time but you will get used to it and go into coping mode. She couldn’t lie flat/wanted company so slept/lived for 3 months on a recliner chair in our lounge with duvets etc. She had a commode and a Walker from the Red Cross. Our hospital is useless a failing one so no help there. She needed an injection every day that she did herself for clotting. She coped very well. I hope your husband is ok.

Oh and push for painkillers from your GP if required. DD2 was discharged with nothing. GP promptly prescribed 4 different types to be staggered. Really helped.

That's a lot to handle at a young age gah2teenagers it sounds as though your dd coped amazingly well. I worry about my teens driving or getting in their friend's cars. What an awful time for you.

Good to know about the Red Cross too. This thread has now become my bible of useful info to refer back to.

My grandad fell off the roof when I was young and broke his pelvis. I don’t remember details, I was only primary age, but he must have made a full recovery as he went on to do things normally.
Tbh I was more horrified at the time his fingers also had to be reattached and how they got the tendons, so those are the details I remember.
I hope surgery goes well for your dh and his recovery is smooth

My dad broke his pelvis when he was young - he fell off a motorbike and landed sat on the edge of the pavement. I don't know much about the recovery as it was before I was even born but he's 71 now and has only just retired after doing a physical job all his life
He does also have two crushed discs in his neck and fractured vertebrae but that was from another accident he needs bubble wrap!

@SmileyClare
You should be able to leave him for a few hours as he can use a bottle for urine.
There is no reason why he shouldn't do well and get back to normal.
Good luck

Thanks your messages are making me feel a little better. Some amazing recoveries on this thread.

I'm doing extra cleaning jobs while he's in hospital to get a bit more money in and hopefully can leave him for a few hours like you say when he's home.

I've been up since 5 today just worrying about dh's operation today. They're supposed to be bolting and screwing him back together.
Just have waves of dread thinking about what might go wrong.

I'm also worried about the practicalities when he comes home. Our downstairs is quite tiny with just a downstairs loo that dh built by converting a large cupboard. How will he wash? A bucket of soapy water? We have a paddling pool that would fit in the kitchen

How did other people cope? Any replies gratefully received.

Sending a big hug x

His insurance would pay out in this circumstance, wouldn't it?

We are attempting to claim on his personal accident insurance, not sure yet.

Thanks for the hug Don't really want to call friends on a lovely bank holiday morning to bleat all my worries down the phone so feeling a bit at a lost this morning!

Try not to worry, he's in the best place. Yes he will probably have to strip wash.
The hospital occupational and physiotherapist will advise you and give you equipment for home.
It's gonna be ok x

Read your thread title and was relieved that it was "only" a broken pelvis, which is bad but could have been so much worse.

Good luck with recovery.

Ot at the hospital should be able to arrange delivery of any equipment he needs. Modern surgical methods often encourage mobility very early so he might be mobile quicker than you think however because of his work that's the worrying bit, my DD's friend was off for about 6 months when he broke his (carpenter)

Yes I hope we'll be given some more walking aids, rails etc. He smashed his arm quite badly which makes it more complicated with not being able to put weight on that. All I have received so far is a commode chair which is sitting in the front room. I'm looking at it with dread!

You're right. He's lucky to be here and the surgeon said he could have been paralysed if he'd landed differently. The consultant is now saying 6-9 months recovery if all goes well.

I will just have to trust the surgeons and hospital staff know what they're doing. I'm sure I'll feel a bit better when I know he's out of surgery.

Thanks for your messages.

@SmileyClare
Thinking of you and your dh and wishing him a speedy recovery.
In an instant one's life can change.

Hi OP - regarding washing downstairs - my mother used the kitchen sink, and a selection of flannels and sponges, and immersed as much of her body as she could - and wiped down the rest of her. We bought one of those rubber attachments for the utility room sink and she washed her hair in there. I guess one of those old fashioned tin tubs would work too? Play it by ear. I posted a few days ago about my nearly 91 year old mother, and I honestly thought that it might be the beginning of the end a few short months ago, and she's walking miles, up ladders again, completely recovered.

He's finally out of surgery after 6 hours. They pinned one side but the fracture the other side (acetabulum bone) basically the part of the pelvis that forms the cup for the ball of the thigh bone, was too difficult to get at without dislocation the whole hip. They're going to leave that side to heal on its own.

HuntingoftheSnark getting a shower attachment for our kitchen taps is not a bad idea. When he's a bit more mobile, I could possibly sit him in a plastic chair in the paddling pool and spray him down sorry I've gone a bit hysterical.

They are already talking about him coming home. Part of me is thinking Yay but also Oh shit I've got to manage this at home.
Thanks for your kind wishes.

You really need to insist he cannot come home without a care package. That includes equipment , carers to help with personal care and independence, physio, ot and any community nursing for dressings and management. Even things like chair raisers, dressing aids and when he can manage stairs bathroom adaptations.

A friend broke his pelvis and various other things in a motorbike accident. His bike skidded on some oil on a wet road, threw him off and then landed on him.

He was in hospital for about 4 months - stabilising pre-surgery, surgery and rehab - but is fine now. Aches a bit in wet, cold weather but works full time (motor trade) and runs around after his small kids.

Wow four months in hospital, poor guy. It's amazing how they can fix pelvises these days. I hope my husband will be running around eventually. They warned he may have a limp and develop arthritis in the worst side.

Thanks LIZS I'm going to try and get hold of OT at the hospital to clarify. I'm a bit concerned that the only thing I've had delivered is the commode so far. I didn't know the NHS would do bathroom adaptations. Thanks, this is all helpful info.