Weclome to Neuro Talk. I am sorry to hear of your jumping accident. I have also sky dived and loved it. I quit because of health. I am fused all except for C1-2, which is at the base of the skull. I still can turn my head. With complete fusion, you will have trouble doing this. Looking up or down is also a problem to a degree. T1-2=3 will help with upper body turning. Driving can be an issue, as the degree to which you can turn around is compromised. I hope you can get some physical therapy, to help with movement.
This surgery for me was the second. I had alot of pain the first week or two. I had help in the house for the first weeks too. Ask your doctor for a muscle relaxant on top of your pain killer, like Soma, there was quite a bit of muscle spasms for me, which hurt like the devil. Make sure your Neuro informs you of the condition of T1-2-3, that they are strong enough to support the hardware. Do you know if you will have disks replaced? I had donar bone, and not out of my hip, so there wasn't the addition of added pain from the hip surgery. Please be good to yourself after your surgery, and take it easy. Sleep all you can. I am here for you if you have any other questions. My surgery turned out OK. I hope yours does too. ginnie