As a neurosurgeon, it was a new experience for me to face the consequences of an accidental fall just before I underwent simple spinal surgery for relief from backache. This essay describes how I was affected by the unexpected operations that followed. The physical pain, the anxieties, small inconveniences and the relatively free use of drugs such as antibiotics, that I might have taken for granted in my patients undergoing surgery, now took on a new meaning for me. My perspective on my illness as patient, rather than as physician, and the special care given to me by medical, nursing, and paramedical colleagues were transforming experiences. Based on these occurrences, I offer suggestions on how we can improve our approach to patients.