How to explain Pubic Symphasis Dysfunciton in court?

DiscusCoach

I am dealing with pretty severe pubic symphasis dysfunction due to being hit by a drunk driver in June (onset was severe 2 days after accident and almost non-existant prior to accident). 

How the heck to I explain this in front of a judge. The trial starts Aug. 22nd and I was told I would have to explain my injuries. I'll Google it and see what I get because it just seems hard to explain out loud in a court appropriate manner.  

NurseLaLa

Quick brain storm for ya:  

"Women have a fused joint in their pubic bone. The joint is fused with cartilage. The injury I sustained damaged the cartilage, causing the joint to separate, which in turn lead to difficulties completing activities of daily living, including but not limited to dressing myself, daily house hold chores, driving, getting in and out of bed, bathing, turning in bed..."  

ellewoodsSC

Its a condition where the ligaments joining the two pelvic bones at the pubis stretch and become loose, causing instability and pain.  You can specifically describe the extent of the problems and pain you're experiencing.

Because PSD is a pregnancy-related condition due to increase in the relaxin hormones, I imagine you might have a hard time proving that the accident is directly responsible.  I'm assuming you have a medical assessment and documentation of your injuries and some sort of statement from the Dr. to validate your claims?

 

 

DiscusCoach

NurseMom1:

Quick brain storm for ya:  

"Women have a fused joint in their pubic bone. The joint is fused with cartilage. The injury I sustained damaged the cartilage, causing the joint to separate, which in turn lead to difficulties completing activities of daily living, including but not limited to dressing myself, daily house hold chores, driving, getting in and out of bed, bathing, turning in bed..."  

You are scary good. Thank you!  

karinothing

DiscusCoach:

NurseMom1:

Quick brain storm for ya:  

"Women have a fused joint in their pubic bone. The joint is fused with cartilage. The injury I sustained damaged the cartilage, causing the joint to separate, which in turn lead to difficulties completing activities of daily living, including but not limited to dressing myself, daily house hold chores, driving, getting in and out of bed, bathing, turning in bed..."  

You are scary good. Thank you!  

Is this a jury trial? You don't want to talk like this in front of a jury unless you want to put them to sleep. You probably don't even want to talk like this in front of a Judge.  You aren't a medical expert you are a real person with a real problem. You want to really talk about how this impacts your every day life. So, don't just say "I have difficulties completing activities of daily living" you will want to say "some days the pain is so bad that when I reach down to pick up a sock from the floor it brings tears to my eyes" or something like that. Paint a word picture of what you actually go through each day. If you are living with pain, you should be able to paint an accurate picture of what you go through each day.

Try sitting down and pictuing what activities you are having difficulty doing and how you feel (both physically and emotionally) when you do them. Explain how this was before the accident and how it is now. Anyway, you just don't want to be too technical/rehearsed.

blu-eyedwife

karinothing:

DiscusCoach:

NurseMom1:

Quick brain storm for ya:  

"Women have a fused joint in their pubic bone. The joint is fused with cartilage. The injury I sustained damaged the cartilage, causing the joint to separate, which in turn lead to difficulties completing activities of daily living, including but not limited to dressing myself, daily house hold chores, driving, getting in and out of bed, bathing, turning in bed..."  

You are scary good. Thank you!  

Is this a jury trial? You don't want to talk like this in front of a jury unless you want to put them to sleep. You probably don't even want to talk like this in front of a Judge.  You aren't a medical expert you are a real person with a real problem. You want to really talk about how this impacts your every day life. So, don't just say "I have difficulties completing activities of daily living" you will want to say "some days the pain is so bad that when I reach down to pick up a sock from the floor it brings tears to my eyes" or something like that. Paint a word picture of what you actually go through each day. If you are living with pain, you should be able to paint an accurate picture of what you go through each day.

Try sitting down and pictuing what activities you are having difficulty doing and how you feel (both physically and emotionally) when you do them. Explain how this was before the accident and how it is now. Anyway, you just don't want to be too technical/rehearsed.

Even if this is just a bench trial I agree, except where is the lawyer in all this? In a criminal suit the prosecution should be discussing this with you since they're going to be presenting it and they need to have an understanding. If you haven't spoken with the prosecutor, I'd give the witness liason a call. In a civil suit, you should be discussing this matter with your lawyer.

karinothing

blu-eyedwife:

karinothing:

DiscusCoach:

NurseMom1:

Quick brain storm for ya:  

"Women have a fused joint in their pubic bone. The joint is fused with cartilage. The injury I sustained damaged the cartilage, causing the joint to separate, which in turn lead to difficulties completing activities of daily living, including but not limited to dressing myself, daily house hold chores, driving, getting in and out of bed, bathing, turning in bed..."  

You are scary good. Thank you!  

Is this a jury trial? You don't want to talk like this in front of a jury unless you want to put them to sleep. You probably don't even want to talk like this in front of a Judge.  You aren't a medical expert you are a real person with a real problem. You want to really talk about how this impacts your every day life. So, don't just say "I have difficulties completing activities of daily living" you will want to say "some days the pain is so bad that when I reach down to pick up a sock from the floor it brings tears to my eyes" or something like that. Paint a word picture of what you actually go through each day. If you are living with pain, you should be able to paint an accurate picture of what you go through each day.

Try sitting down and pictuing what activities you are having difficulty doing and how you feel (both physically and emotionally) when you do them. Explain how this was before the accident and how it is now. Anyway, you just don't want to be too technical/rehearsed.

Even if this is just a bench trial I agree, except where is the lawyer in all this? In a criminal suit the prosecution should be discussing this with you since they're going to be presenting it and they need to have an understanding. If you haven't spoken with the prosecutor, I'd give the witness liason a call. In a civil suit, you should be discussing this matter with your lawyer.

Ha, Yeah I forgot to mention that part. Your lawyer should be going over all of this with you.

BonitaKaz

ellewoodsSC:

Its a condition where the ligaments joining the two pelvic bones at the pubis stretch and become loose, causing instability and pain.  You can specifically describe the extent of the problems and pain you're experiencing.

Because PSD is a pregnancy-related condition due to increase in the relaxin hormones, I imagine you might have a hard time proving that the accident is directly responsible.  I'm assuming you have a medical assessment and documentation of your injuries and some sort of statement from the Dr. to validate your claims?

Definitely this.

Also, I am not sure if a judge (or jury) would take your word on this. Most likely you'd need a medical expert that can validate that this is caused directly by your accident. Even then, any medical expert would have to admit that PSD is related to hormone changes.

Your lawyer should really be going over this with you, and explaining and coaching to you how to relate to the judge/jury.