Some problems cost millions of dollars to fix.
We value l;ife here.
Most countries...I would be cooked. They would say "Fuck you..." via socialist systems.
Please Rob, you are a worldly and smart guy
However
I am in this...not you.
I am a denizen and recipient of whatever comes my way in the form of help.
Despite my present lot, I feel I have been served well.
I'm praying for you, and I hope your doctors solve this problem.
I'm just saying that in their small circle, they're not solving this.
There is some doc out there who could identify and solve this.
You can stick to your guy out of some jingoist pride and loyalty to your guy who has been your lifeline over the last year.
Or you can say "fucck it... it's getting worse, not better, so I'm going to get a second opinion".
Your doc may be offended, but he gets to keep his arm no matter how this one turns out, and like you said, he's a salaried employee.
Get a second opinoin from someone outside your doctor's circle.