Just a quick note to say hi! i just read your post,,i don't know if you had the surgery,,but it sounds exactly like mine,,i wore the hard collar 24/7 for 4 weeks,,i healed rather quickly,,i am now in a soft collar,,only take it off to shower,,but it is alot better than the hard one,,i can't drive for another 4 weeks,,but i know i did the right thing,,i had a great surgeon,,i don't know what state your in,,but the surgeon is the whole answer,,,good luck,,let me know what you decided to do,,,you have to be much on the mend by now,,,i am just 5 weeks today post op,,,