I had one level done at C5-C6 to get rid of bone spurring and had been suffering on and off for 6 years. The proceedure is done under general anethesia. I remember nothing of my proceedure. The hospital stay is 1 to 2 days. After surgery you may have some swallowing issues and horseness of the voice and have some pain, but usually that pain can be pretty well controlled with pain meds and many people report having immediate relief of their pre-surgical symptoms after surgery. Today it is 3 weeks since my surgery and I am only taking tylenol for pain meds. I have some swelling/swallowing issues still so I was put back on a steroid for a few days. You can expect to be off of work for 4 to 6 weeks. And with the fact that you will be having more than one level done, you will probally be wearing a hard neck collar for a few weeks to keep your neck still.