@jojo58 C5/C6 hardly affects turning your head, maybe it is 1% of the movement. Head turning is mostly done by C1 & C2 that are designed to rotate with some assistance from C3 & C4, so mobility at this level probably isn't an issue. I have a fusion at C5/C6 and my head turning is normal and the same as it was before surgery. I can no longer touch my chin to my chest like I used to be able to do, but it is darn close. Most surgeons do a frontal approach called an ACDF (Anterior Cervical Disketomy and Fusion). Mine was done with only a bone disc graft and no hardware. To have that, I had to stay in a neck brace 3 months round the clock because nothing was screwed into my spine.

This surgery is expensive, so make sure that the facility, the surgical team, and any accessory workers such as people who do neuro-monitoring are in network with your insurance.

After 6 weeks, I was not in pain anymore and the incision had healed. After that point the scar tissue tightens up a bit. My neck was weak because of the neck brace , so I went to rehab. By about 5 or 6 months, I could forget that I had the surgery. I don't have pain now, but I also keep doing stretching that my PT taught me when my neck tightens up. I also have thoracic outlet syndrome that makes one side too tight, so I need to periodically loosen that.

I am glad that I did this surgery and it doesn't limit my activity. That being said, I work at using good posture so I don't stress other levels and cause them to go bad.

Make sure you ask a lot of questions so you understand exactly what the surgeon says, and they should show you your imaging and explain where the problem is. If you have to choose between fusion and artificial disc, there are risks to both procedures. artificial disk can fail my migrating or screws could push out, and sometimes the body can grow bone around them in an attempt to stabilize them.

This is my story.
https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/using-the-art-of-medicine-to-overcome-fear-of-surgery/