Hi Jim, Before the Swim. is implanted you have to see a Psychologist. If you have Medicare that is their rule. You do have to go to the hospital, your Rep. will be in the OR with you. Not a big surgery, small amount of discomfort after. Please, make sure the battery is not on your waist it should be in the upper buttock. I had a stimulator it worked for me for my leg pain. I don't know if the Representative from the company offered you different kinds of stimulation going into your spine, legs? I choose a wavy constant movement in my leg. It was soothing and kept my mind off my pain. In my area the Company name is Medtronic they have a high success rate. My Pain Management refers me to no one! I don't have the Stim. anymore I have an implanted pain pump continuous medication with it is something like a remote control called a Bolus which means if I need more medication I press the Bolus. It's programed for every hour and half 8 x's a day. I hope this helped.