Well, with the good comes the bad.... the compression fracture I got last year on the way to the dragon run has turned into a "collapse" of the bone.
Crap! It has been getting more painful each month, but I have been relying on the air force doctors and their specialists to "fix" the problem. It took the visit to my cancer doc to point out that the fracture was compounded and needed immediate attention.
I went to a spine specialist recommended by my cancer doc and they took xrays which resulted in an immediate consult with the doctor's assistant (PA) and an appointment for surgery is pending a talk with the doctor (they had to assess me first).
According to the spine institute I should not be walking around, and should be in so much pain that I should be screaming.... guess i'm a john wayne tough guy  
Supposed to be getting an appointment with an orthotic brace specialist sometime in the next couple of days to "support" my structure.
I'll keep ya'll posted on the surgery time and results when ever I get to actually discuss the procedure with the doctor, its supposed to be an injection of "bone cement" or maybe an expansion and fill in of some sort, i'm told after the surgery I'll be able to walk with no pain.... gawd I sure hope so!
My spine looks sooo weird in the xray, because of the collapse it is kinda crooked and looks like a snake going thru the grass.....
HEY! no broke back mountain jokes!  

Make sure they use gurilla glue, it is the best stuff.

Yup... told them so, said I have to be ready to ride by the end of march... LOL, I am hoping I have the Harley sold by then and have a savage already lined up for me. Once I get the savage up and running I will be selling my 300 ninja... I love the little thing, but by then I'll be needing the extra funds to build the savage the way I want it.

Went to see about the brace... they want a co-pay of $250 bucks for it, and i'll only be using it for two weeks... told them no.... waste of money, I've already been putting up with it for 8 months... 20 or 30 days more won't matter.
The "orthotics specialist" kinda shook his head and said, "well, take the walmart one you are using and ask the doctor if it will work, you will be back"...  I hate to tell him I'll make one before I by his.

That is awesome.
Congrats, dude!!

Well, they say the bones are "too much healed" to do the cement spreadin' thingie.
So now they want to do some disc injecting to find out the center of the pain issue, then they want to install "braces, screws and pins", sounds nasty!
Also at two further up, I have a disc that is "disintegrating" slowly and might have to have a fusion done there also... dang, i'll be a bionic man affore this is over.

Anyone else have to go through that? What am I to look forward to? They better not mess up my trip! I'll sue!

Thanks for all the replies!

I'm doing OK, pain issues, but i'm in a specialists hands now, not the military's LOL, so I should be getting the issue resolved soon.