Pune: Orthopaedic doctors and surgeons in the city said that commuting on potholed roads had led to a 20% increase in the number of citizens suffering from several forms of back ailments and advised extreme caution to those who use two-wheelers regularly. Founder of Spinology Clinic Dr Kiran Shete told TOI, “This monsoon has seen a 20% jump in the number of cases of slip disc and neck pain. Travelling on bumpy roads can have serious health consequences.
Highest at risk are those commuting to office daily, delivery personnel and frequent travellers.” Shete said patients were mainly in the age group of 25 to 50 years. “Jerks received from potholed roads pass directly from hands to shoulders to neck and from buttocks to lumbar spine — leading to damage of delicate spinal structures.
” Camp resident Kirtana Suresh was recently travelling pillion on a two-wheeler that her office colleague was riding. While manoeuvring a cracked speed breaker put together with rocks along East Street, Kirtana fell and injured her back. “I have a sprained back and will have to see a doctor.
I cannot move properly and without support. I am unable to attend office in my condition,” she said. Dr Ajay Kothari, consultant spine surgeon with Sancheti Hospital, said the spike in the number of such patients was tremendous.
“We have had two serious cases of spine fracture after patients fell on hitting a pothole filled with water. One even had to go through surgery. Our OPD is seeing a lot of .