@janetb1027 - In this discussion to which I moved your post, members are talking about a very similar ACDF, so I thought they might have some input for you on what your upcoming surgery might be like:

- ACDF surgery recommended for C3-C7 - is it worth it? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/acdf-surgery-recommended-for-c3-c7-is-it-worth-it/?

Hoping members such as @sherri2025 @lee123abc @mimidpistilli @jerrybeach @dlydailyhope @kensie123 and others will share some of their experiences with you with ACDF surgery. @jenniferhunter also may have input to share.

Do you have any plans lined up for your recovery so far, janetb1027 (e.g., a relative coming to stay, an arm chair you intend to spend time on)?

@janetb1027 I had a single level ACDF of C5/C6 that was done without hardware. I agreed to stay in a neck brace until fused and that took 3 months. The first 2 weeks were the most painful, and my throat hurt for 2-3 weeks. That is expected because of the surgical path. Swallowing is a bit tricky and painful. It was like half my throat didn't know how to swallow, but that did improve and recover. I think it is easier for me to swallow wrong even now after 10 years, but I pay attention and don't talk while swallowing.

It is very tiring and I needed to sleep a lot as my body directed energy toward healing. It took 6 weeks until the pain subsided. It took 3 months until I wasn't always reminded that I had just had surgery. After 3 months, I went through rehab and physical therapy.

The pain was not terrible. After surgery, all the spine generated pain was gone, and the new healing pain was because of the surgical path. The drugs nauseated me, so I didn't take pain medication after I left the hospital, and I could tolerate it fine. If you stay calm, it lessens pain. Constipation is a real problem after the anesthesia and pain medicine, so follow doctor's recommendations for dealing with that.

The scar does tighten up and cause some pain. It takes a full 6 weeks to heal and tightens after that. I periodically stretch my scar to keep it looser. I also have thoracic outlet syndrome which is very close to the scar, so that helps.

I have not had further issues, and it has been 10 years. This surgery gave me back the control and use of my arms and was a good decision, without it, I would have become disabled.
A 3-level surgery is more involved and probably has hardware installed. Some patients feel pain with pressure changes from approaching storms. Every patient is different, but that was my experience.

Do you have questions that you want to ask your surgical team?