Like you I had a bad accident on the bike was hit from behind and had 5 broken bones in the neck and had to have a rod with fusion surgery. Doctors at first thought I might be paralyzed. But luckily everything was really good with the surgery .and fusion healed really good.got the clearance to ride again this past Feb. I'm a little younger than u just turned 50 but the bike riding was hard at first but has come around upmto 60 miles . As for the bike I had a fitting done with the bike shop .he put 35degee stems on them .and they work pretty good .the 2 bikes I put them on are a bmc Gran Fondo and a tamac expert. Both carbon bikes not sure if it will work out for you but has for me also pretty uprite riding position