Pelvic Injury

[11C50]

I am in need of some advice, perhaps someone on the forum has been in a similar situation. On June 27th I suffered a significant pelvic injury due to an ATV accident where my only involvement was that I was standing at the wrong place at the wrong time leaning on my own shed watching the venison loins cooking on my grill. Bottom line is I suffered a double Rami fracture and my Pubis Symphis (sic) had a 5/8th inch gap at the time of the accident. I have an antelope tag in my pocket I waited 5 years for, as well as a left over deer tag, both in what I would call moderate to sometimes rough terrain. I have been confined to a wheel chair since the accident, and my primary care physician suggests I just cancel the trip, eat the tag, and plan for the future. I of course disagree. I expect to be free of the chair later this week, and am looking for tips from anyone on the forum who has either been through something like this, or has ideas on how best to get back into some sort of reasonable shape in the limited time I have, while still nursing an injury. My age is against me, I am 61. However I spent 25+ of those years in the Army and/or National Guard and am well aware of how to push my shoulder into the pack straps and embrace the suck when needed. Any advice would be appreciated. Be safe out there and shoot straight.

 

[sneakypete]

Do you have any trekking poles? They will probably make walking easier especially up and down hills. This issue of EASTMANS has a great article on them! Sounds like you need a Sherpa along with you, a relative / hunting buddy to help you? Good luck!

 

[Ikeepitcold]

Wow man I couldn't imagine that kind of injury. All i can say is that if you do choose to go don't push yourself to hard. I would think that you could re injure yourself and is that tag worth it? Maybe give the Game and Fish a call and see if you could get an exception on how you are able to hunt. They may allow you to shoot from a atv or vehicle if that would help or not with the terrain. Hopefully you have a friend that can pack out your animal for you that way you only need to do is kill and then get back to the truck.

Either way good luck to you and thank you for your service.

 

[libidilatimmy]

What state is your tag for? You may be able to get a medical exemption and get a rain check on the tag until next year depending on the state.

 

[CrossCreeks]

In may opinion I would attempt it. Although you did not say where you were hunting, the terrain for Antelope does not have to be demanding and I agree with what has been said do not over do it and consider using an atv as much as possible if you can. You might ever consider using a crutch. Even minor pelvic injuries takes a minimum of 8 weeks to heal and if your hunt is say around the 1st of October that still give you a little healing time. I am sure you have a friend or friends that would like to go and help you out on this hunt before and after the kill. I am not even close to being a receptionist at a doctors' office, just putting my 2 cents worth in. If you can pull it off should make for a memorable hunt to talk about. Take small steps and good luck !

 

[11C50]

Thanks guys. I have considered trekking poles, and will order some. I am hunting north central Wyoming Antelope area 115. I do have a couple of guys coming along, but they are focused on deer, but probably willing to help. We don't head out until 20 Oct so that gives me a little more time. Seeing it is that late maybe I should look into an outfitter, most should be winding down by then.

 

[bowrunner]

I had a separated pelvis about 7 years ago, so I know a little bit about the injury. I was, however 18 years old at the time so I had my age in my favor. This stuff actually heals much more quickly than you think. Within weeks after the surgery, there is significant healing and it would take an incident to damage it again. It will pull and tug and feel like you may be damaging it, but it is just because the scar tissue is not entirely solidified and has not been pushed yet. If the injury is 3 months old, I say push it but be smart about it.

 

[Gr8bawana]

If you decide to go on your hunt I would take it easy and just have fun. If you happen to get an animal that is just a bonus. No sense in pushing yourself so hard to get a shot that you don't have a good time.
Enjoy your hunt and good luck to you.

 

[Sawfish]

I had this decision to make a few years back, and the following are my own thoughts, which do not necessarily apply to this situation. I shattered my lower leg on a mountain hunt in December. I had a bear hunt booked for Canada the following May. I took double doses of calcium supplements and did my own rehab. My Orthopedist was very pleased with my progress, and he said that I was well ahead of his projected timetable for healing. Then I hit him up about the bear hunt. After a long silence, he said: "I am not going to tell you not to go. You are in good health and are healing well. If you have no mishaps on the hunt, you should be fine. However, if you do suffer a mishap, you could be risking a degree of permanent disability." He made it clear that it was my decision. I love to hunt, and live all year for the few short weeks we can really be alive in the woods. The thought of giving that up was unthinkable. Considering the overall picture, if I cancelled the hunt, Lord willing, I could rebook for the following year. If I went and suffered the unlikely mishap, I could be permanently disabled, and I would force that burden on my Wife to satisfy my own selfish wants. I decided not to go because I deemed the risk to be too great. I am not saying that is the right decision, but I felt like it was the right decision for me. Like I said earlier, these are only my thoughts as applied to my situation. Give it some thought, and you will make the right decision for you.

 

[11C50]

I decided to go on the hunt and actually got a deer tag as well for the Southern Big Horns and with the aid of trekking poles and some expensive new boots things went better than I had hoped. I managed to get my goat, but ate my deer tag by choice, nothing big enough to warrant a pack out came within range. The trekking poles were key, they provided not only stability, but confidence. Conditioning was an issue but that is where knowing to pace yourself was important. I was exactly 2 months out of the wheel chair when this hunt began, and I consider it a success.

 

[Hilltop]

Would love to see some pictures 11C50. Congrats and way to not give up- passing on opportunities due to any excuse never makes a person feel better in the end. Persevering does!

 

[11C50]

Hopefully the picture will come through. I am told the goat looks happier in this picture than I do, trust me that is not really the case.

 

[shootbrownelk]

You did good there 11C50. You toughed it out, congrats!