Doctors are seeing a lot of teenagers, who commute by two-wheelers, complain of spinal problems

When 21-year-old Rohit ( name changed) fell from his bike when he tried to dodge a pothole, he put his hand out to cushion the impact. But then, he ended up with a brachial plexus injury that paralysed his right arm.

Brachial plexus is a group of nerves that come from the spinal cord in the neck and travel down the arm. They control the muscles of the shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand, as well as sensation in the arm. The fall has changed the life of the third year engineering student.

Neurospinal surgeons in the city are seeing a lot of teenagers, who commute by two-wheelers, complain of spinal problems. They are convinced that potholed roads, coupled with “unscientific” speed-breakers, are taking a toll on people’s backs. Potholes, along with a sedentary lifestyle, are a deadly combination.

“We are seeing more teenagers (both riders and pillion riders) with complaints of backache. Chaotic traffic, potholes and uneven roads are the major causes of spinal problems in people with weak ligaments,” said S. Balaji Pai, Head of the Department of Neurosurgery at Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute.

“Jerky rides put pressure on the disc joints in the vertebral column. If this happens repeatedly, the discs start degenerating, causing further problems,” he explained.

Kiran M., consultant neuro and spine surgeon at the Institute of Neurosciences in Narayana Health City, who is treating Rohit, said potholed roads not only cause spinal stress injuries but also lead to severe nerve degeneration. “The student may suffer permanent disability in the arm,” he said.

But poor roads are not the only cause of backache.

Rajkumar Deshpande, consultant neurosurgeon at Fortis Hospitals on Bannerghatta Road, said most patients are from the IT sector. They sit in front of a computer for long hours and lead a sedentary lifestyle. “People working in the IT sector and at call centres hardly follow any back-healthy practices. They have no time to exercise and lead a stressful life. These are the main risk factors for getting a backache,” he said.

Doctors said sleeping on a hard surface will help avoid backache and also relieve pain. “Proper care should be taken while choosing the thickness of the pillow,” said Dr Pai.

Precautions for motorists

Ride slowly on bumpy roads

Avoid sudden application of brakes

Sit straight while riding/driving

Have your vehicle suspension checked regularly

While using a four-wheeler, better be a driver than a passenger

Use seat belts

General precautions

Avoid prolonged sitting or standing

Take a break after every 40 minutes

Do not bend forward to lift weights

Exercise regularly

Avoid alcohol and smoking

Maintain ideal weight

Sleep on a hard surface

Warning signs

Shooting pain in the back

Pain that radiates to the back of the thigh and foot up to the toes

Take note, especially if the pain is localised to one side

Numbness in the back of the thigh, foot and toes

See a doctor immediately if you

have weakness in the toes or foot

start experiencing urinary problems along with other warning signs