I thought I might add the surgery is a breeze! The second one I had a little more pain with but I thought the worst part was wearing that dreaded J collar 24/7 for 3 months after the first surgery. The second one I had internal fixation so it wasn't needed. After the first one I ate and spoke fine immediately afterwards. The second one I couldn't talk or swallow at all and that lasted for a few days. I went home the next day on both of them. So as far as the surgery being painful, I actually found it to be less than what I went in for