i'm sorry to hear you've suffered a spinal injury. that's always scary! "c-spine" refers to the cervical spine which consists of the first 7 vertebrae (bones) at the top of the spine (the part of the spine that connects to the base of your skull). this part of the spinal column protects some very important major nerves including the ones that enable a person to breathe. the question of whether or not you need surgery to correct your c-spine injury is entirely up to your doctor and depends on how severe the injury is. minor injuries to the cervical spine may heal on their own with help from stabilization (such as a soft or hard collar). more severe injuries may require surgery to ensure those major nerves i referred to don't get injured as well. cervical spinal fusion for degenerative disc disease or injury is not uncommon. i hope you find this information useful and that you're able to get through this without surgery!
what is a c-spine injury and do i need surgery to correct it?