Thanks littlepaw! I can always count on you to be the first and sometimes the only one to show support, as is the case now. My pain level before never went down below 8 and easily crept up more. Walking and putting weight on my foot without brace does not increase pain but is strange since I can't remember the last time this was true. I climbed some stairs yesterday, which increased it to 7 from its very usual 6 these last seven days. I cannot say I've been below a 5 or 6 this week, but am glad it hasn't gone up much if at all. Do you think the potential for less than a 5 pain is there with the permanent? I don't want to be greedy and can function with a 6 so it's great either way. My only concern is that I won't feel this normal for months until the incisions and back heal. It might not seem worth it just to go down 2 on the pain scale but it is a significant 2 and 2 that can get me back on my feet - literally. The StimWave sounds great, almost too great, so I'll keep an eye on that and hope it becomes available soon to the moss public and hospitals. I'd love for more people to chime in on questions you have for me to ask myself or the ones I should be asking the people in charge of my care...