Vic,
Many thanks for telling us about the pump, I hope all goes Ok for you (I'm sure that it will), If I was you I would have got the pump when you were first offered it - you might have being better by now, but I know how hard it is to have surgery when you have RSD, due to the risk of the RSD spreading - but please don't worry I'm sure it will be Ok.
I hope all goes Ok with the research too
Take care and keep us posted
Alison