I will be having cervical spine surgery soon. Having had a cervical
spine fusion once before about 30 years ago, I am pretty prepared.
Enough so that my mind is now on the trivial stuff like what to do
with my hair. Last time, the day before surgery they announced that I
had to have most of my hair shaved off to accommodate a halo cast. I
was a teen with hair below my waist who was aiming for the chic hippy
look. I of course, burst out crying. This time the doctor thinks I
can just have a cervical collar. Right now my hair is shoulder
length. For those who have had cervical collars, did you have your
hair cut very short, buzzed/shaved off, or kept normal length? Can
you take regular showers, wash your hair in a cervical collar? How do
you manage?

Remembering that traumatic day and perhaps reading about peoples
reactions to Britney Spears current hair-do is probably why I find
myself thinking so much about it now. This time around I want to be
emotionally prepared for everything. If I need my hair cut off, I
want to do it before I enter the hospital.

I will meet with my doctor in a couple of weeks so I can ask him
these and more important questions but would like to hear from people
who have gone through it.

Thanks.