I am so sorry to read of your journey to chronic pain.
Please ask every question you can think of.....I have been here about 2 years and still learn so much from others discussions...so let those questions rip.

I have a Metronic adaptive stim for deep lumbar pain/nerve injury. I wanted to comment on feeling it.

Yes I still do feel pain thru the tingle although it is less intense. At first I kept it on low at work and very high at home...the problem for me ...when it is on hi ...my brain thinks I am wobbely...like I might fall or like I can't step over something even small.
It helped enough with the pain for me to get back into exercise again ...by getting stronger I could now leave it on constantly at a low setting...this works so much better for me...I forget it is on. I do set it higher sometimes at night if my pain levels go up.

The surgery is not easy...I had a hard recovery...took 10 days off and needed 3 weeks. Not an easy decision and so very personal.

I do know you will get plenty of feedback here.
Johanna