Pelvic progress

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BY: Melanie Alexander

Published: 27th May, 2010

Its coming up to five weeks since I fractured my pelvis. Doing no exercise at all for almost 4 weeks was getting me seriously down so with a couple of phone calls I managed to get to see my consultant a week earlier than planned. He told me to not try riding a static bike for at least another week as this would be applying to much pressure on the fractured area and could damage healing but that I could try swimming with a leg float and to use an arm bike. At last something to stop me completely losing my form.
 
So in this last week I have been swimming almost every day and am finding I am getting stronger and more mobile every day. I am now able to swim front crawl without a leg float although my left leg is of little use. My good friend Jo, a fantastic physio and cyclist has given me exercises and suggestions to help maintain some leg and core strength. Whilst in the pool I am treading water to mimic cycling and have been using a long tube float that I put between my legs and mimic cycling (which is like riding a pretend bike with out putting pressure on my pelvis). Doing this enables me to do some interval sessions. Plus static exercises in the gym that hopefully are helping me maintain leg and core strength.
 
In this last week I have been building up the distance I can walk and am now able to walk without crutches for some distance before it gets uncomfortable. I have tried a couple of rides on the turbo. The first lasting 20 mins before the pain in my back and hip got too much. Yesterday with my saddle 5 cms lower than usual height I managed an hour but this did leave me feeling sore so I will probably hold off the bike a couple more days and have to experiment with a few different saddles. Just hoping this is not going to be a long term problem.
 
I'm now feeling more positive, although not riding a bike yet being able to do some exercise has made me feel much happier. I am definitely moving much quicker in the right direction.