@jeanstewart Lesley, I do know where you are coming from. I would also agree that you may want to contact your surgical team. The surgical nurse should be able to call you to answer your concerns. I had this same surgery at Mayo Rochester for one level, and my nurse did that for me.

The cages are put into the space left when they take out the bad discs. They provide a space for the new bone to grow into to fuse the vertebra together. I had bone disc spacers instead of cages as a more natural material. It was bone bank bone and is just the mineral matrix left (like a hard sponge) after the bone cells are cleaned out of it and it is sterilized.

I don't know how your other health conditions will affect your recovery and your experience in healing may be different than mine. I do know it helps to work on easing your fears, and knowledge helps, so do ask all the questions you have before you are headed into surgery.

The front approach causes a very sore throat and may cause swallowing issues. My issues resolved in about 3 weeks. There is a risk of problems with swallowing or vocal cord paralysis that may be permanent. It is something to ask about. Personally, I have only heard of one other patient who had vocal cord paralysis. If that happens, Mayo does have a procedure to implant a device that allows the vocal cords to meet again and restore the voice. What does help after you have healed enough is to do physical therapy with a PT who also does myofascial release. The surgery creates scar tissue that gets tight. I periodically stretch mine out just using my hands and holding a shearing stretch until it releases. I do think that one side of my throat has less sensitivity for me to know when I'm swallowing wrong, even though it all works fine. I make sure to not talk while eating, and to swallow slowly and pay attention. Liquids can sneak down sometimes and cause me to choke, so this is why I go slow and take smaller sips of water when swallowing.

My surgery was the best thing I could have done for myself. I was losing the ability to hold my arms up and control them, and I got all of that back because of the surgery. I was starting to have issues with walking and emptying my bladder properly. All of that resolved and I when I woke up from surgery, all of the pain I had was gone. The pain I had then was healing pain, so a good pain. It helps to frame it that way in your mind and to see yourself as part of the surgery team working together to solve the issues.

At 6 weeks, I was feeling good and that is when the scars are fully healed and starting to tighten. It took about 3 months for the fusion to set. I was in a neck brace for all of that time because I did not want hardware on my spine. I was very tired and slept a lot because my body needed the energy for healing. You won't feel up to chores and housework, so get everything done and ready, and lots of clothes clean and ready to put on. I put elastic laces in my gym shoes, so I didn't have to try to tie them without looking. You won't be allowed to bend and twist or lift much weight at all. By 3 months, I could forget that I'd had spine surgery because I really felt normal again. I was 59 at the time of my surgery.

What are your concerns? Is there something I could answer for you?