After your cervical spine surgery you should be able to perform most activities of daily living very quickly. It is wise to get moderate exercise such as walking almost immediately after discharge from the hospital. You will find that several short walks per day are easier than one long walk.

If you have been instructed to wear a neck brace, it is critical that you do so as directed in order to give yourself the best chance of healing. If you have not been given a neck brace, you may feel free to move your neck in as normal a fashion as you can. Your neck may be stiff and sore initially, but gradual resumption of range of motion will occur.

It is absolutely critical to the healing process that you do not smoke or use any nicotine products. Nicotine usage reduces the healing rate by as much as 30%.

Anti-inflammatory drugs (arthritis drugs) such as Ibuprofen and Naprosyn also inhibit bony fusion and should be avoided. Please check with the doctor to see when it is safe to resume these medications.

Do not force range of motion by forcefully turning the head or bending it side to side.

Do not sleep on your stomach. This requires you to turn your head and neck in an awkward position for extended periods of time.

If you have weakness in an arm, please feel free to use light weights (5-10 pounds) or resistance bands to try to rebuild the strength. Please contact the office prior be beginning a gym or spa exercise program.

Eat a balanced diet.

Get plenty of rest. 

Shower normally. You do not need to cover the wound while showering. 

Unless you have been instructed otherwise, please remove your Steri-Strips one week following the surgery. You may use Vitamin E cream on the incision 10 days from the surgery. Shave carefully!

Use pain medications as needed. Try to reduce the use of this medicines as tolerated. Pain medicines are constipating. The decrease in activity naturally associated with a surgery will also tend to make you constipated. To avoid this, drink plenty of fluids, and consider taking a mild laxative if needed.

You may drive when your range of motion allows you to see traffic around you safely, and you are off of pain medications.

Return to work will be addressed on an individual basis. In general return to light duty work can occur within a week or two from surgery.

If you experience persistent fever greater than 101^{o Farenheit, drainage from the wound, redness or swelling please call the office.}