Yeah they wanted me awake so they could tell if they got the leads in the right place and I could feel relief but if this other woman who replied that she had hers taken out after five years I don't know if I want to go through it and have to have it taken out if something happens to it. I hate having to go through surgeries for anything I've had enough in my lifetime and I want to have a normal life. And be pain free. But they did try everything from physical therapy steroid shot burning of the little nerves but nothing worked. Now I get to go see a neurosurgeon for a consultation to get an appointment to have him put the paddle style stimulator in my back which my pain doctor said the paddle style and one would be a lot better than the leads because it covers more of the spine.