The Global Economy in Turbulent Times

CHAPTER 92 The Quality of Life¹

This chapter represents a complete change of pace. I was in Singapore undergoing surgery on my spine—a procedure called Trans-foraminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF). My doctors tell me because of wear and tear over the years, not to mention prolonged youthful excesses, my lower backbones have degenerated badly to cause severe spinal pain and discomfort. I do make light of this but it’s a big deal—any orthopedic surgeon will tell you that addressing degenerative lumbar kypho-scoliosis affecting simultaneously four lumbar vertebrae involves a major operation that is not to be taken lightly. Simply put, the surgeon has to decompress—enlarge the vertebrae space to remove undue pressure on the nerves, repair, rebuild, and fuse with instrumentation in order to stabilize that part of the spine. In the final analysis, titanium nuts and bolts and plates are used to put my vertebrae together; and voilà! I now have a new lumbar spine. And, I feel great, mobile, but most important, increasingly pain free. I am even slightly taller! It involves seamless teamwork, intricate “carpentry,” meticulous surgery, and sensitive dexterity in managing the patient to avoid, in the worst-case scenario, paralysis.

Soft Options

The injuries to both my cervical and lumbar joints date back to the 1970s as a student at Harvard. It was only in the past 20 years—got worse still in the last 10—that the pain and discomfort deteriorated. I decided very early on—like most 50-somethings—that ...