Make sure you get the trial. Allow a good three to four days to see if decent pain relief ensues. Watch out just in case the electrode moves (which happened to me). If this happens after a few days, any pain relief will suddenly disappear. Hopefully, they will take an x-ray to confirm movement of the electrode away from the "sweet spot". You should base your decision on whether to go ahead with the permanent implant on the best relief you received.

BTW... it is possible that you may not get as much pain relief with the permanent implant (as was the case with me) as you got with the trial. No one seems to know why. But, I still received about 50-60% relief. Along with my meds, it made life almost normal again... until it just stopped working about three years later.