@doug2018, My cervical fusion was in 8/2011. I had a wonderful recovery except for the awful onset of type 2 diabetes from the dozens of steroid shots while in the hospital. The surgeon said not to worry, that my bloodsugar would drop back to normal after the shots stopped. However, he was wrong. My blood sugar soon forced me on to Metformin and a label that changes my life daily. I have not gone back to the surgeon after the follow up visits because my recovery was smoother than I ever imagined. After a few years I now have some tension and pain on one side of my neck, but so far not enough to send me back to the Neurosurgeon. He said that I would need more procedures on down the road, but so far nothing is bad enough to warrant more cutting for me. How is your recovery going for you? I just love being off ibuprophen!