Neck surgery is oftentimes the perfect way to treat a chronic or severe neck issue, but the process is never as simple or as straightforward as it may seem. There’s a lot more that goes into an operation and rehabilitation plan than meets the eye, and failing to be aware of the total scope of surgery can actually hinder your rehab. With that in mind, we want to shine a spotlight on four things many people overlook when considering neck surgery.
Important Things To Know Before Neck Surgery
Despite the title of the blog, we strive to talk about all four of the following topics with our patients before their surgery, because oftentimes these aspects get overlooked or outright ignored. An informed patient is more likely to experience better recovery results than someone who is under-informed or misinformed, so we want to give all our patients the information they need to have a successful operation and recovery. Here are four things that can be easily overlooked when it comes to your neck surgery.
- There Will Be Pain – Let us be clear, there should be no pain or discomfort during the operation itself. Anesthesia and other sedatives can ensure that the surgical procedure will be pain-free. That said, surgery is a major trauma on your body, and as the anesthesia fades, you will have some discomfort. This is completely normal, but sometimes this can get overlooked by patients who assume pain will dissipate as soon as the underlying issue is addressed with surgery. Your surgeon can explain how to use painkillers to help control pain in the first few days after the operation, but know that these will not be a long-term treatment. Expect some discomfort, and pain won’t catch you off guard.
- You Can Rehab Before Surgery – Some people think that there is little for them to do until after their operation is complete, but that’s simply not true. The stronger your head and neck muscles are prior to the operation, the healthier they’ll be post-op. You don’t need to wait until surgery is over to start strengthening your neck with helpful exercises. Ask your surgeon what preoperative exercises and range-of-motion stretches can help improve the function of your neck while you wait for surgery.
- Rehab Typically Takes Longer Than Expected – Your doctor and your physical therapist will likely have very accurate rehab timelines for your recovery, but we’ve found that patients sometimes underestimate how long their rehab program will take. That’s because you’ll inevitably start to see some progress and eventually you’ll hit a point where things feel “good enough.” It can be tempting to start skipping your PT exercises or your daily stretching routines once you’ve hit this “good enough” stage, but it’s important that you never settle for good enough. In order to make the strongest and fullest recovery, you need to keep doing your therapy exercises until you get full clearance from your care team. It’s great that you’re seeing progress, but don’t let that progress plateau because your discomfort has become bearable. See your rehab the full way through.
- Our Job Isn’t Done After Surgery – Finally, some patients feel like they are on their own once they’ve been discharged from the surgical center. We always strive to make it a point to let patients know that we are here to answer any questions or assist with your rehab in any way possible. Our job isn’t done until you’ve completed your rehabilitation program, so feel free to lean on our team for answers or assistance. Going the extra mile for his patients is what sets Dr. Jackman apart from the rest!
For more information about neck surgery and how you can prepare for the operation, or to talk to a specialist about a different neck issue, reach out to Dr. Jackman and the team at Midwest Spine & Brain Institute today at (651) 430-3800.
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