Tuktuk or Bodaboda to ride or not to ride

It’s raining again. Rain sometimes reminds us of the joints that usually don’t pain but somehow reawaken when the temperatures cool down. Some elderly women say that they can use this to predict if it will rain. The rain is good. It’s a blessing. To quote a sub-chief who once said “We pray for Rain. No one prays not for rain.” But its like a thorny rose, beautiful but you handle it with caution.

Of late we have had floods and lots of mud. Hence the need for caution especially when using Motorcycles (Bodabodas), Auto-rickshaws (Tuk Tuks as they are commonly called) in this rainy season. More motor-vehicle accidents also occur in rainy season due to poor visibility (made worse by fog & mist) and slippery roads. We don’t like getting wet but sometimes it’s good to think if it’s safe to use the bodaboda or not especially in muddy sections. Someone once said, it’s almost impossible to see a person walking and getting stuck in mud. It might mean going to fetch out the long lost gumboots to protect you from the mud. If paper bags (jualas) were not banned you could tie it around your legs and improvise. I guess you can still do this with some of the waterproof shopping bags. That’s what I used to do when I was younger and somehow was caught by the rain unawares. If it’s unsafe to use to use the bodabodas or tuktuk, take the bold step and walk. You will just get wet and muddy but at least without trauma.

Some of the fractures that occur due to slipping in the mud are but not limited to:

• Wrist (Distal Radius) Fracture: occurs when you break the fall on an outstretched hand.

• Ankle fractures: One of the most common fractures due to fall

• Hip fractures: More common in elderly patients and osteoporosis.

• Foot and hand Fractures

• Spine fractures- I met a young lady who landed on her back and unfortunately hit a stone.

Unfortunately many of these injuries may require surgical correction. A few of them can be corrected by manipulation with casting and rest. In the event of a fall, please visit your nearest Orthopaedic surgeon in order to get correct management. Call us today if you experience any pain related to a fall and one of our specialists will be available to see you.

picture source: https://www.scienceabc.com/nature/petrichor-why-the-smell-of-soil-after-the-first-rain-is-so-sweet.html