well my ins would not cover the the artificial so i had to go the synthetic route fused C 5 6 my problem was almost total shut down of my left arm shoulder, the bulge pressed against the nerve this was ongoing for about a year untill the last couple of months it started to get unbareable, the incision was through the front about 2 inch cut, few weeks out doing not to bad. doc said take about 3 months for fusion to b totally fused, thats why i asked if anybody starting working before without any problems