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.