Further recovery will happen over the next four to six weeks, after which you can return to light activities. Something to consider about neck fusion surgery is that it may not produce the intended results. Cervical Spine Orthopedic And Spine Surgeon Fairfax Va Wang j, mcdonough p, kanim l, et al. What to expect after 3 level cervical fusion . The first week was very rough, but every day i continued to feel better and better. I just had my 6 month check up from a 4 level cervical fusion that had to be done from the posterior. It’s a slow healing process, but in the end, the operation may end up being successful. I got to avoid the swallowing issues so can't help you with that. Don’t do any bending, lifting, or twisting at all during this phase. See recovery after fusion at more than one level Three to six months after surgery: Limited movement of the neck or shoulders; Later, your doctor may replace the rigid brace with a soft collar that can be taken off for ...