Broken Pelvis

Chuck_Nice
Posts
82
Joined
1/31/2011
Location
Indianapolis, IN, USA

Anyone here break their pelvis and recover quickly to race again? I broke mine in 3 places and have what is called a complete "O" ring fracture. I have recovered enough to walk without a walker or cane. Some days after exercise I feel like I have steel cables in my hips instead of tendons..I can ride bicycle on street, not ready for MTB trail yet. Also doing light weights at gym. Any tips on getting my hips moving easier?

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deez387
Posts
144
Joined
7/1/2015
Location
Fulton, NY, USA
6/29/2026 3:44pm
Chuck_Nice wrote:
Anyone here break their pelvis and recover quickly to race again? I broke mine in 3 places and have what is called a complete "O" ring...

Anyone here break their pelvis and recover quickly to race again? I broke mine in 3 places and have what is called a complete "O" ring fracture. I have recovered enough to walk without a walker or cane. Some days after exercise I feel like I have steel cables in my hips instead of tendons..I can ride bicycle on street, not ready for MTB trail yet. Also doing light weights at gym. Any tips on getting my hips moving easier?

I had a similar pelvis fracture a few years ago.  Yours sounds a bit more complicated than mine.  I fell from about 3 stories to my feet and the force went through my legs and basically out my pelvis.  I had a lot of soft tissue damage and lots of bruising along with my core basically being destroyed.  After PT, I actually started doing hockey designed stretching and hip mobility exercises.  To this day, I still wake up and while in bed, stretch my hips and legs before getting out of bed.  Its a rough recovery but take a look at some of the hockey specific exercises....they really helped me and continue to do so.  Basically anything you can find on YouTube 

6
FahQ
Posts
864
Joined
7/5/2015
Location
USA
6/29/2026 4:43pm

I cracked my pelvis in 3 spots in November, non displaced.
Was on crutches for 2 months, did a little PT 

I was off the bike for 4 months, but now I’m back to full speed ….

57 B speed 

5
sumdood
Posts
8857
Joined
3/11/2013
Location
San Clemente, CA, USA
Fantasy
6/29/2026 5:04pm

I had an "Open book" pelvis break. There were some other complications so it's hard to say what the recovery was, but it's ok now. I ride about 30 miles a week on my emtb, have done 150 mile rides on my dual sport, and ridden in the desert with no "Pelvis" pain. Jumping hurts my lower back but I think thats more because of disc issues than the pelvis.  I'd get a good pt and do what they say. I'm in the same camp as deez387, daily am stretches plus a series of exercises and stretches I try to do 3 times a week. Did you get any hardware ? I got a 6 screws, a plate and a lag bolt. I can swim and bodysurf etc with no discomfort. PT helps. Good luck hope you recover fast with no lingering pain.   

X RAY PELVIS
4
Chuck_Nice
Posts
82
Joined
1/31/2011
Location
Indianapolis, IN, USA
6/29/2026 5:37pm
Chuck_Nice wrote:
Anyone here break their pelvis and recover quickly to race again? I broke mine in 3 places and have what is called a complete "O" ring...

Anyone here break their pelvis and recover quickly to race again? I broke mine in 3 places and have what is called a complete "O" ring fracture. I have recovered enough to walk without a walker or cane. Some days after exercise I feel like I have steel cables in my hips instead of tendons..I can ride bicycle on street, not ready for MTB trail yet. Also doing light weights at gym. Any tips on getting my hips moving easier?

deez387 wrote:
I had a similar pelvis fracture a few years ago.  Yours sounds a bit more complicated than mine.  I fell from about 3 stories to my...

I had a similar pelvis fracture a few years ago.  Yours sounds a bit more complicated than mine.  I fell from about 3 stories to my feet and the force went through my legs and basically out my pelvis.  I had a lot of soft tissue damage and lots of bruising along with my core basically being destroyed.  After PT, I actually started doing hockey designed stretching and hip mobility exercises.  To this day, I still wake up and while in bed, stretch my hips and legs before getting out of bed.  Its a rough recovery but take a look at some of the hockey specific exercises....they really helped me and continue to do so.  Basically anything you can find on YouTube 

Thank you!

1

The Shop

Chuck_Nice
Posts
82
Joined
1/31/2011
Location
Indianapolis, IN, USA
6/29/2026 5:41pm
sumdood wrote:
I had an "Open book" pelvis break. There were some other complications so it's hard to say what the recovery was, but it's ok now. I...

I had an "Open book" pelvis break. There were some other complications so it's hard to say what the recovery was, but it's ok now. I ride about 30 miles a week on my emtb, have done 150 mile rides on my dual sport, and ridden in the desert with no "Pelvis" pain. Jumping hurts my lower back but I think thats more because of disc issues than the pelvis.  I'd get a good pt and do what they say. I'm in the same camp as deez387, daily am stretches plus a series of exercises and stretches I try to do 3 times a week. Did you get any hardware ? I got a 6 screws, a plate and a lag bolt. I can swim and bodysurf etc with no discomfort. PT helps. Good luck hope you recover fast with no lingering pain.   

X RAY PELVIS

 I have 2 lag type bolts crossing each other. Also have what looks like the nails in you x-ray in the same place. Thanks for the suggestions!

1
sandman768
Posts
8092
Joined
3/21/2014
Location
Saratoga Springs, NY, USA
6/30/2026 3:47am

Dam…gnarly injury….I always use Mtn biking as a litmus test….for injury recovery and transitioning back to moto…and No, I don’t switch my front brake lever to moto style….😂

6/30/2026 4:05am

Similarly to Sumdood, crashed my adventure bike on the road and suffered an "open book fracture". I have similar hardware as him too. I still commute ride every day, am very active in general sports and haven't had any issues, except some lower back pain, if I stand too long, but I think that may be my posture. I do feel that if I lie on my back and my girlfriend straddles me I don't seem to be able to stay hard ? Maybe the hardware down there, restricts blood flow.  Not sure if this is the info you are looking for ?

1
rbm33
Posts
448
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Duncan, OK, USA
Fantasy
6/30/2026 4:13am

Broke my pelvis, full dept tear on both adductor tendons and torn abdominal muscles. i had to have a hospital bed moved in to my house for 6 weeks to sleep in.  was off the bike about 5 nonths, and my pelvis fracture wasnt as severe

 as some others

gharmon
Posts
2747
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Valley, AL, USA
6/30/2026 4:51am

Shattered my acetabulum (hip socket), double column pelvic fracture, distal compound fracture left femur (femur exited near knee). Eight days in hospital, 12 weeks non-weight bearing. Took over 5 months to get back to work. Probably six before I tried to ride again.  It left me with left lower leg nerve damage, mainly left foot. I have neuropathy in left foot that I take high doses of gabapentin for. Also left lower leg weakness, again it's mainly the foot. I heel shift now for the most part. 

This was 11.5 years ago. I've learned to live with it. Never any pain from the accident in the hip area. If not for the nerve damage I'd be perfectly fine! Good luck!!

AJ565
Posts
2331
Joined
3/12/2012
Location
San Antonio, TX, USA
6/30/2026 5:36am

I've never had that injury, but at least you can tell people you blew out your O-ring. 

kawasa84
Posts
1774
Joined
6/7/2008
Location
Flower Mound, TX, USA
6/30/2026 11:19am
moto111 wrote:
Similarly to Sumdood, crashed my adventure bike on the road and suffered an "open book fracture". I have similar hardware as him too. I still commute...

Similarly to Sumdood, crashed my adventure bike on the road and suffered an "open book fracture". I have similar hardware as him too. I still commute ride every day, am very active in general sports and haven't had any issues, except some lower back pain, if I stand too long, but I think that may be my posture. I do feel that if I lie on my back and my girlfriend straddles me I don't seem to be able to stay hard ? Maybe the hardware down there, restricts blood flow.  Not sure if this is the info you are looking for ?

I'll take any injury in the book over one that if I'm on my back and my girlfriend straddles me, my call to action better work!

6/30/2026 12:06pm

Lag bolts??? 😬

Real quick...real fast...always professional 💪

1
pummel
Posts
992
Joined
6/2/2010
Location
Salem, OR, USA
6/30/2026 10:39pm

Also had an open book pelvic fracture. Broke my rod in my femur from a previous injury in the crash. Had to have lag screws in my hips connected to an external fixator. Was a long recovery. Was racing again in about 9 months.  Full recovery not too much lasting issues 

1
Signats
Posts
7
Joined
3/22/2023
Location
roseburg, OR, USA
1 day ago

Lots of swimming and biking got me going again.broken pelv

Woodsguy
Posts
17
Joined
12/23/2024
Location
Lancaster, OH, USA
1 day ago

Broke the "Iliac wing" on mine in a couple places, in addition to my ACL and some other stuff.    The Pelvis was fine in a month.   Get well.

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