as a follow up to my problem and in the hope that if someone else has the same issue, they can try this: change the cord!
I had called into Apple and after spending a good deal of time with me trying to trouble shoot (my pc would not recognize the iphone), they asked that I send it in for a replacement. I decided to go down to the verizon store and asked the lady to try one of their cords...and would you know it, it worked. I then got a new one and sure enough, that worked! Have no clue how the cord's usb would not work but it was still able to charge through the wall charger....