Hello @dani1212 Welcome. I had the anterior surgery for ACDF at C5/C6. I had a painful throat for about 3 weeks and had to be careful swallowing so I would not do it wrong. It's like one side of the throat didn't remember what to do, but after all the surgical inflammation subsided, it was much better. I do think that I don't have quite as much sensation for a gag reflex with a slightly better chance to swallow wrong, but I manage just fine as long as I pay attention, and don't talk while eating. My dad had swallowing issues related to a head injury, and liquids posed the most risk as they slipped down more easily. He used thickening agents for liquids.

Don't let me scare you. Surgery has risks, but not doing surgery also has risks. You have to make an educated choice. I had cadaver bone and did not have a hardware plate. I choose to stay in a neck brace for 3 months until fused to avoid having a metal plate. This surgery gave me my life back and was a very good thing.

Some patients have vocal cord paralysis as a risk of ACDF. If that happens, Mayo has a procedure with an implant that would restore the voice by allowing the vocal cords to meet again. I have communicated with only one person who needed that, so I don't think it is common, and she had about 7 spine surgeries before that happened. If they do surgery through the back of your neck, it is a lot more painful because of going through muscle that you use holding up your head.

One thing I did which helps is to stretch my skin on my neck where the incision would be with my hand to loosen it all up which will make the tissue easier to retract during surgery. You could ask your surgeon about that. After I was healed, my PT stretched out the surgical scar tissue. It periodically tightens up and I still stretch it. Your best result is with a good spine surgeon who does a lot of these surgeries.

I wish you well and your upcoming surgery. I had ACDF at C5 C62 years ago unfortunately my surgery was not very successful. Had lots of complications that doesn’t mean yours will. I suffered swallowing problems as well as six weeks in had spinal cord injury. Do your homework ask lots of questions there is no right or wrong. Unfortunately I fell in that 2% of patients who have a negative outcome. I’ve been working with neurologist and a team of doctors for symptom control as additional surgery is not an option

I had 4 titanium discs put in at C3-C7 back in 2021. It has been pretty much a non-event. I do have some swallowing issues but they are minor. Overall, very successful.