@mmclaugh2002 The physical therapy that helps me the most is myofascial release. This is not aggressive therapy. It is stretching the tissues and waiting about 5 minutes because it takes that long to start to unwind the tightness and scar tissue. Even muscles that don't have scars can be stuck together and not moving. This also allows fluids to circulate, and stuck tissue is dehydrated tissue. If I do too much for strengthening, it makes my thoracic outlet syndrome worse and I will be in more pain. MFR can also address surgical scar tissue.

Mayo Clinic info
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/thoracic-outlet-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20353988
MSK Neurology
https://mskneurology.com/how-truly-treat-thoracic-outlet-syndrome/
You might want to be assessed for TOS and it's hard to find a specialists for that. You have to look at teaching medical centers that list TOS as a condition that they treat. For TOS, myofascial release works very well.

This is our Myofascial Release discussion.
Neuropathy - "Myofascial Release Therapy (MFR) for treating compression and pain"
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/
This talks about some breathing issues.
https://www.painscience.com/articles/respiration-connection.php
I don't think the answer is waiting a year. At 7 months, if you are fused, you have done a lot of healing already. It would be worth asking to be tested for TOS. If you had a whiplash that caused your spine problem, it could have injured the muscles in the neck and shoulder leading to TOS. If your neck is weak from being in a neck brace, therapy is good to strengthen that. I was in a brace 3 months and had to do some strengthening rehab. You can do MFR anytime even if you don't do it now in therapy. There is a provider search for MFR trained therapists at http://mfrtherapists.com/

A specialist for TOS is likely a thoracic vascular surgeon. Have you found a doctor with this specialty in your area?