How do I manage fractures to my sacrum and help the healing ?

My right sacrum was fractured in several places in an auto accident several years ago. After relearning how to walk, I walked at every opportunity (and still do). I was determined to not depend on the walker and little by little stopped using it and would often ice my sacrum when in pain. I developed the mindset of "work through the pain"; deep breathing helps a lot also. Keep a healthy mindset, positive thoughts, and weed out negative friends who probably mean well but feed negative thoughts.

I got three minimally displaced fractures in my pelvis when I tripped going down flagstone steps and hit my left hip on the edge of a flagstone step. My hip was x-rayed because I’d had a hip replacement the year before and all was well there. Two weeks later I went to the doctor (a PCP) because I still couldn’ walk (using an indoor rollator) without a lot of pain. She had my pelvis x-rayed and sent to an orthopedic surgeon, he ordered a CT scan and there it was. He didn’t want to see me until I was 6 weeks along in healing. I was told it’s a time thing. It would take 8-12 weeks to heal. I was to continue using the rollator for as long as I had pain.

I bought my self a coccyx pillow on Amazon. It has a cutout that goes in the back and offers relief when sitting. The brand I bought is called everlasting comfort. I still use it off and on because I have lumbar spinal issues and it often helps that. That definitely made sitting more comfortable. The fall unfortunately also whacked my back into worse shape as well. Around 8 weeks, I realized that I could put full weight on my legs without pain. I slowly used the indoor rollator less and less. At 11 weeks I had my second checkup and they x-rayed the pelvis and I had laid down lots of bone and the orthopedic surgeon was very pleased and released me. He sent an order for physical therapy for me to a PT I’ve used for the last 9 years. I couldn’t get in to see him for another month but once I did and he tested me, he told me my hip was fine, my pelvis was fine, my back, not so much so he gave me some new back exercises to do .

I was unable to drive until that 8th week as it hurt to put my foot on the pedal. I didn’t start walking my dog again, using an all terrain outdoor rollator until week 11 after I saw the surgeon because I had to be able to bend down to pick up after him and wanted to be sure I didn’t do further damage.

It’s frustrating because you can’t set the bones in that area. I’d say that the fact that you didn’t need surgery is a good sign. I listened to my body and learned a whole lot of patience. I’m really sorry that you’re having to go through this. I know how frustrating it is. Oh, and we then had an ironworker come out and put in a hand rail next to those steps. It’s in our back yard that’s in 3 levels. We had taken care of everything in the house to age in place here but didn’t consider the yard.

Mine was messed up from an auto accident and a couple of 5 hour gut surgeries where they pressed down on that area. I also have spina bifida, broken coccix, a couple of lumbar tears and other stuff up and down my entire spine. Can deal with it all but the sacroiliac is the worst. When that goes out it’s searing pain.
I always sit on a folding hip cushion, so my hips and tailbone sink lower into it than the rest of my rear. Tried every kind of cushion and this is the only kind that works. Got it on amazon years ago. I use it every time I’m out of the house. I also sit on an air cushion on my recliner and sleep on an air pump cushion.
The rest of the stuff, prayer, meditation, distraction through hobbies, minimal rx and otc if actually needed, help. I only go to the doctor for it if I can’t walk. They usually refer me to PT which I’ve had to do several times over the years. I’ve had to use a walker for awhile, then a cane most of my life, in between being fine without it for years.
I use heat packs for aches and cool for searing or burning. You can make your own packs by putting rice in a sock or a little sewn bag. For heat, microwave 15 seconds and only leave on skin for up to 1 1/2 minutes at most depending on your heat tolerance. You can put clothing or a towel in between to soak up some of the heat.
For cold packs put it in a zip lock bag in the freezer for 30 minutes with the same tolerance limits.
It’s been over 40 years for me but I’ve got it down. I know how to prevent injury and to recover. Not always successful with new injuries but that’s the best it’s going to get for me. Hope this helps.

Thank you so much for your reply and all of the information. I plan to order the pillow that you mentioned. It really helps to know all that you did and that you are doing well now. I am continuing to walk in the hall upstairs with my rolling walker and do exercises to strengthen my calf muscles. My hip is painful after I walk, and that worries me. Did you experience hip pain?
I hope you are still progressing. Thank you

Thank you so much for your response and all of the information. I really appreciate it. It really helps to know how others dealt with sacrum fractures.
I hope you are doin well !!!!

Good morning.
Have you discussed with your provider about the benefits of stretching (aka yoga), strength training, as well as meditative breathing? I have fractured my ramus and had several injuries (not all requiring surgery), and movement is great to reduce pain and increase overall body function. Many people get scared when they hear yoga, but I have taught a very restorative form of it. Tai Chi can also be a very helpful tool towards improving functional activity and mood (as well as reduce pain). Some of the best "pain medicine" is what your body produces.

I don’t quite remember where I was feeling pain when I walked without the aid of my rollator in those first weeks, nor, what was still painful even when I wasn’t walking at all. It was probably in my hip area because even though I’d had my hip x-rayed and knew that it was fine, I went to the doctor after 2 weeks in because I still had so much pain in the hip area and her sending me to have my pelvis x-rayed showed why, when it was determined that I’d fractured the pelvis.
I know that sitting got a lot easier after I got my coccyx pillow and as I write this with my ipad on my lap, I am still sitting on that pillow that’s on my “Stressless” chair in the den, and I have a rectangular pillow behind my back for back support.

It “seemed” like it was overnight that I realized that my pain had decreased significantly and could suddenly walk without pain when I walked unaided. I do know it was a good 8 weeks which seemed like an eternity. It was a very depressing time and I beat myself up a lot for being so careless going down those steps. I was never so relieved when I discovered that I could walk unaided, without that pain and that I hadn’t ruined my life forever.

Because of my back issues however, walking without the support of at least a cane, is still slow and laborious, like walking through mud, but as my PT told me, it’s not due to my hips or pelvis, it’s all due to the back compression on nerves in my legs. I can walk lickity split with my rollators. I’m a different animal on my own, lol. For now, I’m okay with that because back surgery hasn’t been offered as a guarantee that it will make things better, and I’m okay with using a cane or rollator when I’m out and about. If where I’m going offers carts, like grocery stores or Target or Lowe’s…I’m fine either using a cane to get to a cart, or, slowly walking unaided to where the carts are. I suspect that when people see me walking with my rollator, they wonder why I need it because I can walk normal using it. It doesn’t take much to take the pressure off my spine to enable me to walk well.

Patience pays off. It’s about the only thing we have with pelvic fractures I think. Knowing that folks do recover fully is what kept me going through the wait. I hope that you continue healing well, that your hip area pain subsides, and that you find the coccyx pillow as helpful as I’ve found it. My very best to you.