I will go see the Neurosurgeon next week hopefully and get a time frame.   Thanks for the well wishes guys.

Good advice charlie... maybe put the vise on a few stacked hardback books...

I have a few ideas.........
When I talked to the doc a few years ago he said probably only a collar a night, just no lifting and extreme rotation
 
 Neuro Surg appt on 2/16 to consult and set up date for surgery. 

Well an update on my status.   My appt with Neuro surg is on 5/15.  They jerked my around with the appt saying that since I was an existing patient I had to wait and the 2/16 appt was for a new patient only.  Called the neuro surg today to get an idea of the wait after the 5/15 for surgery and they said 2 months minimum so that puts me into July or August for Surgery.   I should be healed up just in time for fall Steel next year if that is the case
2 weeks ago I got a spinal injection.  I has worked fairly well relieving my pain by about 50%.    Crappy thing is my lower back/sciatica has been acting up the last month so I have been having a little numbness in my foot,  not bad, but annoying.   Pain clinic Tuesday and they may try another hot next month because of the wait.   I am also getting a new script for a pain relieving cream that I trials and seemed to work well.    
I have dealt with it this long what is another few months right.
 

Thanks for the update . Sounds like a lot of pain and discomfort even on the communication front. All that stuff folks endure and march forward makes our , my day to day gripes minuscule .
I have always tried to do the things I enjoy no matter what others think and keep on truckin

https://www.youtube.com/w...page&v=zvXPi5suWds
 
I anyone thinks they got it bad watch this video.  These girls kick****  Imagine having to do this EVERY TIME you want you want to go anywhere
I work with SCI patients every day and teach them how to do things like this

I don't want to get all into things but my sister of 39 years has down syndrome, severe diabetes and mental retardation.. She requires full time care from my only surviving parent, mom and someday that care will rest on my shoulders. While she endures these struggles every day of her life, she is one of the most happiest person I have ever known..I understand fully about others struggles in life and always consider my time here precious , my other sister was not so lucky at age 9..
 
Now this morning I got a huge scare, still a little worried..
While pouring my morning coffee something snapped like a rubber band on the left side of my mid back.. It was excruciating pain.. I couldn't move and breathing was tough.. All I could do was bend over to help ease the pain and it took a good half hr before I was able to stand back up.. The sharp pain is now a dull pain but it seems inflamed.. This is all new to me as I'm always a very active person and not used to things breaking down on me.. I hope 4 ibruprofen do the trick so I can get back to the sawdust and chalk dust in a little while.. The fish wont wait forever but the wife may have too..
 
sorry for the sappy story

Ice that back too HT.    Could have slipped a disc, but more likely pulled a muscle.  

I don't have anywhere near as much knowledge of this stuff as Clint, but based on past instances that were similar, and advise from my doctor, I would not return to the heavy arm work involved in sanding, etc, while taking 4 ibuprofens.  Those NSAIDs are pretty effective at masking the pain and damage, and you could make things worse with the additional work.  It might cost you an additional weekend later to finish after resting things now, and then maybe checking the doctor during the week, but the alternative could be worse.
 
L13

Lucky13
I don't have anywhere near as much knowledge of this stuff as Clint, but based on past instances that were similar, and advise from my doctor, I would not return to the heavy arm work involved in sanding, etc, while taking 4 ibuprofens.  Those NSAIDs are pretty effective at masking the pain and damage, and you could make things worse with the additional work.  It might cost you an additional weekend later to finish after resting things now, and then maybe checking the doctor during the week, but the alternative could be worse.
 
L13

Rich heed what L13 says,that is all good advise.