Hi Raymond,

all the things you have asked about are normal. The effects of what you have been through will change some and perhaps not change back to the way it used to be. You can help yourself by doing some light stretching and being patient. I have regained enough that most people would not know by watching me work or play. I can bowl, golf, shovel snow (I hate it) and move my arm mostly as I did before surgery. I still have some numb areas but much less than right after surgery. The stiff and "hard" neck has become flexible enough that I do not notice any problems in turning my head, but it will never be like it was. I found that stress caused the muscles in my neck to tighten up and cause pains to come and go. Aches and pains are common and the healing goes on for much longer that months. I still notice subtle changes 2.5 years out. Relax some and let things heal. Don't let these things slow you down, just keep going. You can expect to regain most of your arm strength and mobility but you will have to work at it. Try to walk your fingers up a wall untill you have your arm as high as it goes. Then try to keep going higher. I found this stretching to be very helpful.

take care