I guess it would depend on the doctor involved whether or not you need to fail with the pain stimulator prior to getting a pump. I was never tested for the kind of stimulators that you was now but I had used a TENS unit for a number of years a long time ago and had found it to not be very effective. I had also had a very bad skin reaction to the connectors which made it impossible for me to continue to use it. My back and the condition it was in made it pretty obvious that they weren't dealing with one compressed nerve, there were problems all over the place. I just had to be infection free for one year after having cancer and nearly dying from the treatment before they would let me have surgery to have the pump put in. I think there was also concerned about any open wounds with a stimulator and the possibility of infection. I hope this information helps. Love and blessings.