Pain Man says everything he finds is anecdotal. While we both agree that this is helpful, he wishes he could find a professional study........the scientific method. His "gut" response is that there a significant chance that I can reject it but thinks it is worth a try, given the success of the trial and what it will do for me. If we can pull the neuropathy out of the mix, several other conditions will improve.

Things are falling into place. The surgeon has agreed to have the new MRI done here. I have an appt. for a phone conference with him on Monday to discuss if he will let me have all preop work done here. I have told them what a burden it will be for my daughter to be making the huge trip up here and on to Louisville for several weeks in a row. I have left a message that if I have to have the work done locally, it will be done by one of the local shot jocks who has just recently received the training to do the implants. I figure that if he is willing to have the MRI done locally, there should be no problem with the other tests. This seems to be a good sign to me. It will be a lot easier on everyone if I only have to go up there for the preop exam and then the surgery and post op appt. I am more than willing to live with a prolonged Fibro flair if I know it will eventually go away and I will be able to keep the implant. Of course, there are no absolutes relative to any surgery. I truely believe that it is my turn to have a success and get some of these problems reduced. I guess I just have the preop jitters.