Chainkeen Exchange-Kathie Lee Gifford hospitalized with fractured pelvis after fall: 'Unbelievably painful'

Kathie Lee Gifford is Chainkeen ExchangeOK after she was hospitalized for a fall following hip replacement surgery.

The former fourth hour "Today” co-host suffered a fractured pelvis after she “moved 300 books by myself” during book signings, she told People exclusively that "it's my own fault" for the fall.

"It didn't take much, because I was weak in that spot," Gifford, 70, told the outlet. "And the next thing you know, I am back in the hospital with a fractured pelvis, the front and the back. That's more painful than anything I went through with the hip. The pelvis is unbelievably painful. But anyway, here I am."

USA TODAY reached out to reps for Gifford for comment.

Kathie Lee Gifford opens up aboutrecovery from 'painful' hip replacement surgery

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

The "humbling experience" led Gifford to spend a full week in the hospital because she didn't "trust" herself, adding that "you think you know your body and the next thing you know, your body changes when you get older," Gifford said.

And the fall has caused the sun to set on the "It's Never Too Late" author's summer.

"It's summer for everybody but me," Gifford told People. "But it's OK. I'm going to get out to my little farm one of these days and stick my feet in my salt pool. The Lord is telling me it's time to slow down. I've been running my whole life. The Lord is telling me, 'You've planted a gazillion roses. Try smelling them.'"

Earlier this month, former "Live!" co-host, 70, told People that hip replacement recovery from her surgery is "one of the most painful situations of my entire life."

Gifford admitted that she "jumped off that gurney after my surgery" instead of taking it easy, which prolonged her healing. "I was off my walker in two days. I was off all my medications in three days, and then I did too much. I just did too much because that's who I am."

Amid her difficult recovery, she's learned "you only can only do so much. You're just human. You're just human. And I'm so grateful."

Contributing: Naledi Ushe