Scarred (But Being Healed), I will try and give a short version of how I received the SCS unit. Of course I was injured 11 years ago and did not have surgery until 1 1/2 years ago. I was told to wait until I could not stand it any longer. My WC adjuster is great to deal with and I have been told by her that I use less medications and have cost them less than most of their clients. That has probably changed now. I am over $400,000 in the last 1 1/2 years. After the failed multi level fusion, my surgeon stated he did all he could. He did more than he planned to do during the surgery and said all that he could do is the next level up which will come some day. I went back to my PCP after my surgeon released me. My PCP is a wonderful man and we share respect for each other. He made a referral to a pain clinic (the best he said) but they would not see me as my WC is from out of state. I finally found the guy who just moved in and was building a patient base and was connected with my surgeon. They tried a tens uniy but it did not help. They tried more PT but it did not help. He set me up for the trial and said that I would have to have a psy eval. When I returned shortly before the trial he asked if I had the Psy eval and I said no as they did not call me and I was not given a name. They set up an eval but the PMS said that if my WC did not require one, then he would bypass it. I called my WC and they said bypass. So no Psy eval. After the trial, I was finally contacted for a Psy Eval. but I told them it was not being required. After the trial, the SCS implant was set according to my PMS vacation schedule. Then when he refused me meds after surgery, he said he was sending me to a Psy. Then on the day that he said he was sending me back to my PCP, I received a call for another Psy. appointment. I will calll as soon as I am back and cancel as I will defer to my PCP who is not happy with the care I have had and was concerned who was going to do the Psy. Eval and follow-up. My PCP is only concerned that he has never dealt with a SCS before but I can teach him all he needs to know. Just Kidding, I don't have that much pride. I am sure that Boston Scientific will come to his office if necessary. It is not the usual path but then I had to deal with a PMS that was not that caring either. I am choosing to think that he was trying to get his patient base set up and ran me through as fast as possible.
I found out from his nuese that he did not show up until the surgery was half over and made jokes in the operating room about wanting to do the surgery himself and asked the surgeon if he could take over. I don't think he was joking. I am glad I had a good surgeon. This probably won't help but that is how it happened. I hope you get your ordeal straightened out soon. I can tell you that Boston Scientific told me the unit cost a little over $30,000. The trail unit was about $3500 plus the doctors and surgery charges. I just received a bill for the operating room and supplies that was $70,000. Then there were 3 doctors in the room and I know they all got paid.