@dmccartney53 Donna, this is wonderful news! As you come off of pain medication, you can think of this as "healing pain" and a transition to your recovery. This isn't the same as pain caused by a spine condition before decompression, and that is gone. I had trouble with constipation on pain medication and was nauseated by it, so I stopped taking it, and it was OK. I was able to handle the discomfort just by resting and I didn't have expectations of no pain. Just take it one day at a time. Some days are better, some are worse, but all of it is progress. I remember how hard it was to wean out of my neck brace after 3 months because my muscles were weak from wearing it. Hopefully, that will be better for you with less time in the brace. I know you have lifting restrictions, and for good reason because all those shoulder muscles are also attached to your spine and will pull on your neck if you lift something. This is your time to just relax, rest and heal. Just wait... because the day will come when an X-rays shows the begging of bone fusion which will be exciting for sure!

Keep up the good work!

Jennifer