What can you not do after neck surgery?
It will take between 4 and 6 weeks before light work can be accomplished, while full recovery usually takes between 2 and 3 months. If necessary your doctor may suggest physical therapy sessions to aid recovery.
Most neck surgeries are major procedures that require general anesthesia. This allows you to sleep through the entire surgery.
The best sleeping position to reduce your pain after surgery is either on your back with your knees bent and a pillow under your knees or on your side with your knees bent and a pillow between your legs.
After surgery, you can expect your neck to feel stiff and sore. This should improve in the weeks after surgery. You may have trouble sitting or standing in one position for very long and may need pain medicine in the weeks after your surgery. You may need to wear a neck brace for a while.
Avoid Bending, Lifting, and Twisting If you absolutely have to, be sure to lift by bending your knees, not your back. It follows that you should try to avoid bending, lifting, and twisting with your back muscles at all for the first few weeks after surgery (consult with your surgeon to determine an exact timeline).