I had an anterior cervical discectomy
and fusion of C4-C7 done on 2/17/09. Within two hours of the surgery, my neck, shoulder, arm pain and numbness was completely gone!
I have some shoulder tenderness from being positioned on the O.R table in a hyperextension of my neck, but am taking a muscle relaxant with good relief. Amazingly, I did not experience any problems with hoarseness of my voice or difficulty swallowing.