Yeah, numbness is a whole different deal, as is the nerve "recovery", when the upper part of the nerve starts firing -- you get some interesting sensations.

My numbness is pretty much all the way around at trachea level, with the skin right under the jaw line very sensitive now that the nerves are starting to come back. ROM is good, however. Fortunately, having had my fusion and some other surgery, these sensations are fairly familiar, so I do not freak out over nothing.