NEWS
Jockey Pedroza improving from broken pelvis
Posted: Saturday, January 31, 2009 4:14 PM
MARTIN PEDROZA
NTRA photo
Jockey Martin Pedroza continues to recover from a cracked pelvis suffered in a post parade accident on January 11 at Santa Anita Park.
Pedroza, 43, was scheduled to be released from Methodist Hospital in Arcadia, California, on Saturday.
“To be honest, when I first got here, I really wanted to die. That’s how much pain I was in,” Pedroza said. “I have improved so much, it’s unbelievable. Ten days ago, it would take me 45 minutes to get out of bed and walk five feet, the pain was so bad. Now, I can get up with pretty much no problem.”
Pedroza first throught he might be sidelined from riding for up to a year. He now thinks he might be able to return to riding in two to three months.
“My doctor says I’m way ahead of schedule now,” Pedroza said. “I’m doing therapy four times a day. The doctors, nurses, everybody here at this hospital has been fantastic.”
Agent Richie Silverstein is optimistic about the timetable for Pedroza’s return.
“Doctors say he is six to eight weeks ahead of his rehab schedule,” Silverstein said. “I’ve said best-case scenario is two months, and I stand on that. Sunday will be three weeks [since the injury], and I’m hoping five to six weeks. Of course, it could be a lot longer, but I’m still going with the best-case scenario, which was two months.”
