I had my C5, C6 & C7 fused on March 2. I had a lot of your issues, my biggest complaint was the numbness/tingling in my right hand, pain in my right arm and wrist and pain in my traps and shoulders

The surgery was not an easy one, but I'm doing ok. I have no more nerve issues that I know of, still a lot of swelling, still swalling issues from the surgery, and I'm still on narcs for pain at my fusion site and in my shoulder, but it's a different kind of pain. I'm doing pretty good. Nice that I can use my hands again! I would do the surgery again, I'm grateful for the nerve pain to be gone.

My next appt. for a followup and Xrays is not until April 26, which is 8 weeks post op, so I will be wearing my collar until then. I wear it day and night, and shower with it. If it weren't for all the incredible help I got from my husband I would not have survived this, he washes and dries my hair, and helps with so many simple tasks that I was just too weak or not allowed to do.

I have a titanium plate with 6 screws at my fusion, and I chose to use cadaver bone from a bone bank. My incision is healing very nicely, you can hardly see where the stitches were, there is a bit of a scar, but I'm not really concerned about that.

My main issues right now are how uncomfortable it is to have my collar on all the time, especially sleeping, and I still have difficulty swallowing, always feels like a golf ball is stuck in my throat, but other than that I'm doing ok.

good luck with your consults, and I hope all goes well for you!
Cathie