Recovering from neck surgery can be a challenging journey, often involving downtime and rehabilitation. Timelines vary depending on the patient’s general health, lifestyle factors, and the type of surgery performed.
Neck surgery may be considered as a treatment when conditions like arthritis, bone spurs, and spine misalignments cause chronic pain, mobility limitation, and nerve compression, ultimately impacting a person’s quality of life.
However, surgery isn’t the only path to recovery when facing neck issues. Procedures using Regenexx lab processes utilize interventional orthobiologics to support the body’s natural healing process, offering an alternative recovery path for orthopedic injuries without medications or surgery.
Typical Recovery Time for Neck Surgery
Neck surgery is often performed to address conditions that cause significant pain, nerve compression, or loss of function. These include herniated discs, spinal stenosis, or degenerative changes in the cervical spine
These procedures aim to alleviate pain, improve function and prevent further damage to the spine or surrounding nerves. However, every surgical intervention comes with a risk of complications and a downtime period.
Surgery involves a recovery phase, but timelines can vary depending on the procedure and the patient’s general health. However, potential complications can delay or prevent full recovery. Common complications include infection, delayed healing, and nerve damage.
Research published in 2021 indicates between 20% and 40% of patients report ongoing pain after spine surgeries, including neck procedures. When surgery doesn’t fix problems or causes new ones, this is known as failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS). Several factors play a role in FBSS:
- Preoperative: Choosing surgery for the wrong reasons, often due to incorrect diagnosis or incorrect surgery indication.
- Operative: Damage to surrounding tissues and insufficient decompression, where insufficient pressure is relieved from the nerves during surgery.
- Postoperative: Disc issues reappear, sometimes because of degeneration or stress on nearby spinal segments.
These factors can prolong recovery and affect surgical outcomes. Below, we’ll explore three common surgical procedures and their typical recovery timelines.
Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF)
ACDF is a procedure designed to relieve pressure on spinal nerves. This pressure can be caused by herniated discs or bone spurs, which narrow the space in the spinal canal. Nerve compression interferes with the transmission of sensory and motor signals, causing a range of symptoms, including:
- Pins and needles
- Increased sensitivity to pain
- Pain radiating to the shoulders, arms, and hands
- Muscle weakness and spasms
- Numbness and loss of sensation
ACDF surgery aims to ease symptoms by removing the damaged disc or bone spur pressing on nearby nerves. The two adjoining vertebrae are then fused together, limiting motion and, in turn, pain.
Recovery typically takes three to six months. During the initial weeks of recovery, activity limitation and rest are needed to allow the bone graft to fuse and stabilize. A neck brace is often recommended to prevent injury and support healing. The physician will also recommend follow-up imaging to monitor progress and gradual physical therapy.
Although studies report success rates between 85% and 95%, this surgery carries risks, including infection, nerve injuries, or degeneration of the discs next to the fusion site (adjacent segment disease).
Posterior Cervical Discectomy and Foraminotomy
This procedure relieves nerve compression by removing part of a disc or bone that narrows the space in the spinal canal that houses the spinal nerves. It is commonly used to address pain and restore nerve function in patients with spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, or spine arthritis.
Patients can typically resume light work and activities within four to six weeks. Full recovery takes around three to six months. Physical therapy is vital in restoring range of motion and strengthening neck muscles. High-impact activities like running or contact sports should be avoided until the physician confirms that the surgical site has healed.
Cervical Arthroplasty (Disc Replacement)
Cervical arthroplasty, or disc replacement surgery, replaces a damaged cervical disc with an artificial one. Compared to spinal fusion surgeries, this intervention allows patients to retain neck motion while addressing pain caused by disc degeneration or osteoarthritis.
Recovery from this procedure is generally faster than fusion surgeries. Patients may resume light activities and office work within one to two weeks, with most returning to regular activities within six weeks, with a physician’s approval.
Patients may also need to limit neck-straining activities and follow a tailored physical therapy program to restore neck mobility and strength.
Postoperative Factors Affecting Recovery
Several factors influence recovery after neck surgery. While each patient’s journey is unique, understanding these key factors can help set realistic expectations.
Age
Age plays a significant role in recovery. Younger individuals often experience faster healing due to stronger immune systems and faster cellular repair. They are also less likely to have age-related degenerative changes, such as thinning intervertebral discs, or arthritic changes.
Additionally, studies found that their tissue regeneration decreases considerably as individuals age. This means the body slowly repairs and replaces damaged cells in muscles, skin, and bones. Lower stem cell numbers and more degenerative conditions can contribute to slower healing as well.
Pre-Existing Health Conditions and Lifestyle
A patient’s overall health and lifestyle before surgery can significantly affect recovery speed and success. Key factors include:
- Smoking: Smoking reduces blood flow and oxygen delivery to tissues, impairing healing and increasing infection risk. Tobacco use also weakens the immune system, increasing the risk of infections.
- Diabetes: Elevated blood sugar levels can slow wound healing and weaken the immune system. 2019 research indicates that, compared to non-diabetic patients, individuals with diabetes have significantly higher rates of postoperative complications, including infection, pulmonary problems, heart attack, kidney failure, and death.
- Nutrition: A balanced diet rich in proteins, vitamins, and minerals provides critical nutrients for tissue repair and immune function.
- Physical activity: Pre-surgery fitness enhances circulation and musculoskeletal strength, which helps speed up recovery.
- Chronic health conditions: Diseases like hypertension and autoimmune disorders can slow healing by redirecting essential resources away from tissue repair. Hypertension can reduce blood flow, limiting the supply of oxygen and nutrients necessary for healing. Autoimmune disorders may mistakenly attack healthy tissues.
What You Can Do to Speed Up Recovery Time
Speeding up recovery after neck surgery requires a multi-faceted approach that combines medical guidance, lifestyle adjustments, and attentive self-care. A physician will recommend a personalized approach to recovery based on pre-existing conditions and lifestyle factors.
Attend Follow-up Appointments
Attending scheduled follow-up appointments is essential for monitoring recovery progress and addressing concerns. Physicians will use imaging tests and assessments to determine pain levels and range of motion improvements. This helps evaluate healing, adjust medications, and refine rehabilitation plans.
During follow-up appointments, physicians may also prescribe:
- A pharmacological treatment to alleviate pain
- Physical therapy
- Light exercise and stretches
- The use of a neck brace to prevent strain
Mind Your Daily Activity
Maintaining an active lifestyle without straining the neck can have a positive impact on recovery.
- Rest: In the early stages, rest is vital to allow the body to focus on tissue repair.
- Gentle movement: Incorporating walks supports circulation, which helps supply nutrients and oxygen essential for recovery.
- Exercise: Physician or physical therapist-guided exercises can support healing and speed up recovery. A 2017 study suggests that practicing physical activity after surgery leads to shorter hospital stays.
- Daily activities: Light housework and social activities help support physical and mental health. Research suggests that poor mental health is correlated to increased pain, longer hospital stays, and complications.
Wound Care
Proper wound care is fundamental to preventing infection and ensuring optimal healing. A physician may recommend:
- Keeping the surgical site clean and dry
- Following instructions for changing dressings
- Consistent and thorough handwashing before handling the wound
- Staying vigilant for signs of infection, such as redness, swelling, or unusual discharge
- Seeking immediate medical attention after negative changes around the surgical site
- Avoiding submerging the area in water (e.g., baths or pools) to protect the area where the incision is performed
Healthy Diet
A nutrient-rich diet is critical to recovery by fueling the body’s repair processes.
- Fluids: Drink at least 8–10 glasses of water daily to stay hydrated, support cellular function, and assist the function of kidneys in removing toxins.
- Nutrient-dense foods: Prioritize proteins to facilitate tissue repair. Consume fruits and vegetables high in vitamin C and zinc to boost immune function and collagen production.
- Fiber: Incorporate high-fiber foods like whole grains and beans or consider supplements to prevent constipation, which can result from reduced mobility and pain medications. Fiber and probiotics also aid gut health, which has been seen to strengthen the immune system.
- Avoid processed foods: Reduce intake of processed or sugary foods, which can increase inflammation and slow recovery.
Things You Should Avoid
To ensure a smooth recovery after neck surgery, it’s important to avoid activities and behaviors that could strain the neck or hinder healing:
- Strenuous activities: Avoid heavy exertion or activities requiring significant physical effort.
- Heavy lifting: Lifting heavy objects places undue pressure on the neck and disrupts healing.
- Long car trips: Prolonged sitting during travel can cause discomfort and strain the spine.
- Work for a few weeks: Take time off as necessary or as recommended by the physician to allow the body to heal without added stress.
- Twisting and bending: Minimize these movements to avoid putting unnecessary stress on the cervical spine.
Other Questions Related to Neck Surgery
When should you seek professional help?
Seek immediate medical attention for extreme discomfort, persistent pain beyond expected levels, severe weakness, or signs of infection (e.g., redness, swelling, unusual discharge). Breathing difficulties or trouble swallowing may also indicate conditions that require urgent care.
How serious is neck surgery?
Some neck surgeries are more invasive than others. Although advancements in techniques have improved safety and outcomes, every surgical intervention comes with risks, including infections and nerve damage.
Will you need physical therapy after neck surgery?
Physical therapy is typically recommended to rebuild neck strength, restore flexibility, and support long-term recovery.
How long is the hospital stay after neck surgery?
Hospital stays generally range from one to three days, depending on the complexity of the procedure and the patient’s condition.
How long does the pain last after neck surgery?
Post-surgical pain usually subsides within a few days to weeks, depending on the type of surgery and the patient’s general health. Physicians may recommend pain management strategies to support rehabilitation.
You Can Have a Speedy Neck Surgery Recovery
If you are experiencing neck pain, surgery may not be the only recovery option. The Regenexx approach provides a non-surgical path to recovery for those experiencing neck pain. It also reduces the need for prescription medications such as opioids and steroids. These procedures offer an alternative to traditional surgical approaches, helping individuals improve mobility and quality of life with less downtime.
These procedures utilize the body’s only healing mechanism to stimulate repair of damaged tissues resulting in improved pain, better function, and longer lasting results than just pain medications. Also, these procedures are much less invasive than surgery so they have much lower risks and faster recovery times.
Regenexx utilizes orthobiologics such as prolotherapy, platelet rich plasma (PRP), bone marrow concentrate (BMC) containing stem cells can be used to help a variety of neck problems. Regenex tracks patient outcomes in a registry to see how much these procedures help and aid in how to improve results. Patient Results – Regenexx
There are also many published articles, several from Regenexx providers that show safety and efficacy of these procedures:
- Final Fluoroscopically Guided Cervical Prolotherapy.indd (painphysicianjournal.com)
- Occipito-cervical (whiplash) injuries treated prolotherapy – PubMed (nih.gov)
- Prolotherapy in Whiplash and Low Back Pain: Postgraduate Medicine: Vol 27, No 2 (tandfonline.com)
- Cureus | Regenerative Injection Treatments Utilizing Platelet Products and Prolotherapy for Cervical Spine Pain: A Functional Spinal Unit Approach
- Cervical facet joint platelet-rich plasma in people with chronic whiplash-associated disorders: A prospective case series of short-term outcomes – ScienceDirect
- Plasma Rich in Growth Factors (PRGF) in the Treatment of Cervical and Lumbar Back Pain: A Retrospective Observational Clinical Study – PubMed (nih.gov)
- Biological, Mechanical or Physical? Conservative Treatment of Cervical Radiculopathy – PubMed (nih.gov)
- Ultrasound-Guided Cervical Intradiscal Injection with Platelet-Rich Plasma with Fluoroscopic Validation for the Treatment of Cervical Discogenic Pain: A Case Presentation and Technical Illustration – PMC
- Novel Ultrasound-Guided Cervical Intervertebral Disc Injection of Platelet-Rich Plasma for Cervicodiscogenic Pain: A Case Report and Technical Note – PMC
- Intradiscal Injections of Bone Marrow Concentrate or Leukocyte-Rich Platelet-Rich Plasma for the Treatment of Cervical Discogenic Pain: A Case Series | Cureus
Find out whether the Regenexx approach suits your situation by consulting a physician within the licensed Regenexx network.
You don’t have to be alone in your recovery process. Give us a call, and help will be on its way.
