Thirty-seven years after the stairway collapsed under me and two
surgeries, I'm almost ready for a wheelchair again. I've got one of
those mobility scooters reserved for me at Sun n' Fun and I plan to
bring my personal one to Oshkosh in the motorhome.

That is, if the implantable Spinal Neural Stimulator (SNS) doesn't
work out. I've been going through the vetting process to get one for a
couple of months. As of now, I'm scheduled for my final office visit
to evaluate a new CT Scan on April 15th. and to begin a trial of an
external stimulator unit which uses needle-implanted spinal
electrodes, on May 1st.

If within 10 days the trial unit works, I will get a fully-implanted
unit soon after. The battery is recharged via induction using an
external battery charger every few weeks and the pulse width,
amplitude and frequency is adjusted with a wireless remote control.
One turns the unit off when sleeping or operating machinery. If
everything is okay, it will mean minimal or zero pain drugs! It is
difficult to fly airplanes when doped up on Fentanyl or Lyrica.

Bob, believe me when I quote Mr. Klinton, "I feel your pain!". Matter
of fact, I feel yours, Jim's in NC, Dan's, Big John's, and a lot of
others in Calcutta. You know that Commander Spock? The one who doesn't
feel pain? I get his.

I sincerely wish that one of your considered remedies works. Surgery,
I agree, is a crapshoot at best. The last gomer who cut on me
shouldn't be allowed to work on 2-stroke helicopter engines! Oops,
sorry. Thread drift there.

Rich S.