There is some improvement

After thinking about it, I realize that my day to day life (walking around my office building) IS better now than it was before the surgery. Also, walking a little this morning after dancing last night, I notice I'm not "paying for" last night's dancing with horrendous aches this morning. So there is improvement, even if the pain isn't totally gone.

That might be just because I've had a long break. But it might be actual improvement.

I probably won't be able to run/hike/backpack again unless something else changes; I can't square dance without pain unless something else changes; but it's not AS bad as it was. That's something.

(Wonder if I can find a doctor somewhere who will give up on conservative treatments and do a permanent nerve block. It's been tried but it didn't take, and maybe a second attempt would work.)