“Doctor, how soon will I be able to have sex after my spine surgery?” was the first question an elderly Parsi gentleman asked me after I advised an operation for the pain in his lower back that had been radiating down both legs over several months. All of 6 feet, he sat in the chair in front of me hunching awkwardly off to one side, a posture that gave him some relief, as I gave him all the ‘gyaan’ I could on the risks and benefits of surgery, something doctors routinely do to obtain informed consent from the patient. People usually ask me questions like how long before they can get back to work, are they any postures they should avoid, what are the chances of this happening again, or was there a possibility that this could lead to paralysis. I guess, in our community, the priorities are slightly different, or rather just plain and simple.
