Hi Gary,
I have had both sides done but they were 4 years apart. If you can get them to spare the submandible saliva glands without endangering your life, do so. They don't work as well after radiation, but they don't work at all if they are in the surgical bucket. My first doctor took the one on the right on the assumption that radiation would kill it anyway. My second doctor spared the one on the left so I still have a reasonable amount of saliva.

You most likely will need physical therapy after the surgery. If you have a desk job, you will probabaly be able to go back to work in a few weeks. make certain your chair has arms on it. As to neck stiffness and arm weakness, I have none from second surgery and only a little neck stiffness from first surgery(different surgeons). I had no pain with either operation. As someone said, this is the easy part of treatment.

Good luck to you and take care,
Eileen