Recovery Time for Cervical Vertebrae Surgery

People with degenerative neck disorders, spinal stenosis and cervical deformities might consider cervical vertebrae surgery. During the surgery, the surgeon cuts out the damaged section of vertebra and fuses the area with a bone graft. Recovery time from cervical vertebrae surgery varies takes a long time compared to other types of surgery.

Preparation

Directly after surgery, and for the first few days, expect to feel a lot of pain. It is important to have a pain management plan in place before the surgery.

Hospital Stay

The average hospital stay following cervical vertebrae surgery is one week, though some people handle the pain well enough to be discharged early.

Time Frame

It takes about five weeks for most people to feel somewhat like they did before the surgery.

Considerations

It is important to rest and not strain your neck during the recovery time, because stress can impede the healing process and lead to further surgeries.

Minimally Invasive Procedure

Some patients have the option of minimally invasive cervical spinal surgery that is performed with an endoscope and requires a much smaller incision. This procedure requires fewer days in the hospital and has a much faster recovery time.

References

• Recovering After Cervical Spine Surgery
• Cervical Spine Surgery: Recovery
• Minimal Invasive Cervical Spinal Surgery - The Benefits