Many of my patients first visit my practice with complaints of neck and arm pain, caused by a herniated disc. Although most episodes of neck pain are temporary, some patients experience chronic pain that ultimately requires surgery. Depending on the patient’s level of discomfort, there are two surgical options, cervical spinal fusion and disk replacement. When cervical spinal fusion surgery is performed, the affected bones in the neck are “fused” together using bone graft material with a plate and cage, so they can heal into one healthy bone. Bone grafts can be taken from a patient’s pelvic bone, or cadaver and synthetic bone are also options. Depending on the type of herniated disc and spinal stability, the spinal surgeon will determine the best method for surgery. These methods are anterior fusion, where the spine is operated on from the front, and posterior fusion, where the spine is operated on from the back. After cervical spinal fusion surgery, surgeons sometimes recommend wearing a brace to support  the fusion progress.  This is more important after a multi-level fusion. Maturation of the fusion can take up to 12 weeks. It is important for patients to limit their physical activity level and allow the