Well consider me stunned. I have had this device in since December and had little to no pain reduction to the never ending referred pain that spread out to my hips, both sides. Most of you will know what I mean, that agonising pain that comes as you turn from side to side at night trying to find relief and you drop off to be woken shortly after "in" more pain. Or as you walk it knifes in sharper than sharp?

The rep conducted a sensitivity test, never had one before. Experienced nerve jumping tingling on the right side of my body, nowhere near the spine, on the right side at waist level. You know, that muscle jumping tingle you get when the physio puts the pulse machine on to high. I asked did it mean the lead had migrated, but no, he's happy with it. First time I have ever felt any indication the thing is on.

So he reprogrammed it, explained the electrodes work in pairs and different levels activate different electrodes meaning different areas are targeted. None of this been explained to me before, I was of the impression p3 level 6 meant all electrodes blasting out, but no... So now I'm on P1 level 4 and I'm sitting here in surprise. My thoracic is weeping, cervical screaming, left arm and hand buzzing, BUT reduced hip pain.

The rep agreed I have every right to be annoyed and he was disappointed in the June date for me to see my PM. If I get the paddle with its 32 leads I will get coverage to my thoracic, cervical, lumbar and my left arm/hand. Nevro are working on developing a paddle but it's a long way off, so it's going to have to be the Boston.

Learned my PM is going to retire and that's why the list halved and appointments so far out as he is working 2 to 3 days a week instead of 5. He is a miracle man and he is tired. So hope I can find another PM as good and as communicative as him, bear in mind most PM start out as anaesthesiologists so talking not high in their patient skills. I can see the PM I used to, he is brilliant but he only works out of the hospital where they discharged me with a broken back and treated me so atrociously. Much thought will have to go into that one.

August looms ever closer so I've booked an appointment with my current NS for May and they have me on the cancellation list. I'm seeing my GP this Friday and will get her to refer me to the NS who does the paddles. All this waiting has got me nowhere so I'm taking the bull by the horn and will do the legwork myself to get me in to seeing this new NS instead of waiting until May or June for my existing specialists to do the referrals. I've been so stupid, waiting and waiting being quiet and compliant. It's time I became a squeaky wheel, August will be here and nothing happening unless I take back control of my own path. I want / need to be well enough by the end of August to get back in to the workforce.

Woohoo, just got call from my NS receptionist, she's fitted me in for April 14. I'm going to push for the L2/3 fusion to sort the lumbar pain and paddle insert for the cervical, thoracic and left arm/pain. Yay, I'm excited, I might be in and out and recovering in time for my husbands 50th in July and ready for work by August. It's good to have a goal and dream, yes it might be dashed, but for now, I have some thing to hope for again....