2nd ACDF C3-4 5 DAYS POST OP

I've found this board so helpful prior to having surgery and I'm hoping someone can give me some helpful hints as I have to be back to work Monday.
I had a previous acdf c4-6 with plates and screws in 2009 that relieved years of pain. I suffer from spinal stenosis, severly compressed nerves, narrowing, , herniated disks, severe arthritis, spinal cord compression.
Last August I fell and had acute chronic left neck/shoulder pain, neck spasms, I couldn't even lay my head on a pillow - no meds-until I finally found a surgeon and went through mri, myleogram, emg, etc... (I live in another state now)
Well the myleogram and mri showed severe problems with adjacent levels c3-4 and c6-7 and my surgeon said it was too risky to have both done and believed c3-4 would address my pain issues staing he was going to leave my hardware intact from previous surgery. Well the good news is I have no pain day 5 post op although I'm exhausted. A couple if things happened during surgery:1st I was so difficult to intubate that it almost didn't happen, 2nd-my surgeon removed the 2 screws that held my plate from previous surgery.
I'm sorry if I'm going all over the place with my question but just wanted you to have a little history.
I wanted to know if any of you had surgery where hardware was removed unplanned and the outcome. My other concern is I have to be to work in 2 days and I work at a desk, 2 computers, phone, and in anther week i will start seeing patients as well(i work for a very busy medical practice) I know I only had one level done but today hyst taking a shower and doing my hair had me feeling like I ran a marathon. Any tips on how to get my energy level up when I'm supposed to do nothing. I haven't even started walking yet. Thank you all for listening sorry for typos!
A miracle happens everyday

Yes, I know I'm pushing it going back to work this soon but it's what I have always done. The doctor suggested 2 weeks but is leaving it up to me. I am not required to have a note releasing me back to work and I used the rest of my vacation time this past week. I am 54 years old and I just always have pushed on back to work and done well. This time I'm thinking I should rethink plan. Yes I know all those things I should be doing....
Thank you for taking the time to respond to me, I truly appreciate it.

Miracles happen every day and if you go back to work so quickly and it turns out ok, that would be the miracle. It seems you know that already, you just need assurance. Well, we assure you that more recovery time is needed to avoid being in even worse condition. Go to Chronic Pain 101, scroll down to Sept, 2014 to read lots of information written for and by those of us who have had similar surgeries. From reading previous posts here, it is my opinion that the greatest obstacle to recovery has been having to care for children and/or going back to work too quickly.
The exhausted feeling on post op day 5 is your body telling you it's not ready yet. Please, make some changes, take better care of yourself and have this discussion again in 5 or 6 weeks. That's still too soon, but doable by some. If you can make the changes, the decrease in stress should help you a great deal. Stay in touch. We care.

Hi FaithinMiacles I understand you wanting to get back to work and being dedicated to your career and all That! And how lucky you've been so far by doing that. But what happens if your luck runs Out? And by going back to work early you damage your fusion and cause other problems that cause you to have to take even more time off from your job ? What then? Do you think it is worth taking that Chance? When just taking a week or two off to heal properly to begin with could possibly prevent that from Happening! It kind of like doing preventive maintenance in a Way? Anyway just my thoughts about it, maybe something to think about?

Good Luck to you!

White Beard