Neck Issue, Considering Snorkel....Advice?

I've been away from the forums for a while, but I haven't been away from swimming...until recently, that is. A few weeks ago I started having issues with my neck (herniated disc - degenerative disc disease - wah) and it affects my ability to look right and left. I can swim fly and *** with no problem, but I can't swim free without turning my whole body as a unit to breathe and I can't swim back without doing the same. It's kind of a drag. This may get better in time or it may not. While I wait to find out if this is just an "episode" or the beginning of a major issue, I'd like to use one of those finis snorkels so I can do some free without the agony of turning my head. Anyone ever used one of these swimming snorkels and want to weigh in on whether the "freestyle" model (with an angled pipe) or the regular straight model is the better way to go? What about the cap feature that keeps the tube from filling with water when submerged. Worth the money? Thanks, Forum!