Thanks much to Vikitennis: You've given me much to think about. Fortunately, the neurosurgeon I'm working with is very likely the best between Seattle and San Francisco and possibly including those two cities. He chooses to live here because it is a gorgeous area in which to live.
Congratulations on the success of your implant. I'm so glad you've had the success you've had and gotten back to all the activities you love. I'd be very happy to get back to where I could walk more than 100 yards (after walking 170 miles to elevations of 17,400 ft in Nepal).