@krisingle1 I'm glad you are making progress! I was in SEVERAL auto accidents. My NECK, OMG... so I have surgery 3 years ago. Watch the steroids. They will weaken your bones on a regular basis. (I know, it feels so good!) I used the brace for 2 years after surgery when my neck got tired. but this last year I'm good! I hated the nerve medicines. Only one opioid for me, maybe a tylenol. Lots of neck rotations. My bones fell apart during surgery. They had to go back the following week and put a rod C2 - T1. My mobility is limited and I have a lot of stiffness but all the pinched nerve pains are gone. My back (behind the shoulder blade) itched like a son of a gun... all gone. No shooting nerve pains. I doubt the stiffness will go away but I love my heating pad! I can paint and do my artwork and manage. The botox I did the last year before surgery. It weakens/paralyzes the muscles but it took the pain and constant muscle spasms into my head, took that all away. I got tired of it all and wanted the surgery. I have degenerative disc disease. I have the best orthosurgeon but even he was unprepared for what they found when they opened me up. Find the BEST orthosurgeon you can. IN ADVANCE. Because you will end up needing one when your body can no longer hold the bowling ball we call a head on top of the neck. UCSD is where I am. They are outstanding, conservative, (and really backed up because of it). good luck. I had an MFR therapist put my head ontop of my neck and it was UNBELIEVABLE. The only problem was my neck couldn't support the head anymore. That is when I KNEW I was ready for surgery.