@hope2heal I am sorry about all the frustration and pain you are currently dealing with. I remember that so well. My PCP told me that the pain that came across my foot to the outside of my ankle was not related to back but it is a dermatome and it was cured with the surgery for me. I was trying to be treated at an instate, university setting but they didn't seem to have any interest in really looking/listening to me. Wanted me to go to pain service which I did. The pain MD didn't talk, just pulled out his badge so I could see it and talked down to me. I then self referred to Mayo and am so glad I did. My surgeon was Dr. Arjun Sebastein. He was incredibly kind, listened closely to my story and validated it was from my spine. Prior to Dr. Sebastein, I saw 2 other doctors on the intake team who evaluate you independently of each other and then you are given a plan. The second doctor said I needed an epidural injection...not a nerve root injection which is what the instate institution did which did not work. WOW!!! I cried I was so happy to get relief from that injection. Everyone I interacted with was very kind and answered questions and if they couldn't they contacted someone who could. I had my surgery and they allowed me to follow up at my home state PCP, but they also contacted me at week 2 and then 6 I believe it was...by then I was walking 5-6 miles a day. It was unbelievable the relief I had from surgery. I wish you the best and hope you get relief like myself and others have. Don't give up and don't be afraid to seek a higher level of care when you get stonewalled. You know and you feel what you feel...it is real. All the best and update us and let us know what you find out.