Care after cervical disc surgery Nutrition after cervical disc surgery

Last updated: 08 November 2025 Proper nutrition, which includes foods rich in protein, vitamin C, and fiber, helps heal wounds and digestive system function. Wearing a medical collar as recommended by the doctor also prevents unstable neck movements. Sleeping with an open arch and using a suitable pillow reduces the pressure on the spine; It is also necessary to gradually start light sports exercises under the supervision of a specialist. Complications such as hoarseness and hand numbness may appear temporarily and should be reported to the doctor if they persist. Paying attention to these cares plays an important role in the success of the surgical result and return to daily activities.

subject Key points What should we eat after cervical disc surgery? Soft foods, enough protein, plenty of fluids, avoid smoking Wearing a necklace after surgery Hard or soft collar for support, gradually removed, 6-8 weeks How to sleep after surgery Avoid sleeping on your back with a pillow under your knees, on your side with a pillow between your legs, and on your stomach Rest after surgery The first 2-3 days of complete rest, light activity after the doctor's approval, do not lift heavy objects until the first week Exercise after surgery Light walking, avoid vigorous activity, 2 weeks later limited sexual activity Common complications Pain, numbness, tingling, constipation, hoarseness, nerve inflammation hand numbness Usually temporary, it lasts for a few days to a few weeks, if it gets worse, inform the doctor

What should we eat after cervical disc surgery?

In all types of surgeries including anterior cervical disc surgery proper diet is very important. It is better to use soft and chewable foods during recovery so that the process of swallowing and defecation can be done properly. Adherence to nutrition after cervical disc surgery, such as protein-rich foods and adequate fluid intake, help speed up recovery. It should also be avoided to receive unapproved food or drinks by the companions. If there is a problem with swallowing or excretion, a longer hospitalization may be required for further investigation.

You may have a loss of appetite after surgery. If you have had neck surgery, you may have temporary difficulty swallowing solid food (such as bread or meat), which should improve within 5 to 7 days. Note that smoking slows down the healing process. Studies have shown that people who smoke are more likely to get infections at surgical sites.

Also, nicotine is a known osteotoxin, so it may prevent the artificial disc from attaching to adjacent vertebrae. Many surgeons may ask the individual to refrain from smoking for a few weeks before and after the operation.

Necklace closure after cervical disc surgery

Using a cervical collar after cervical disc surgery is believed to reduce post-operative pain, provide a sense of security during daily activities, and even help the damaged bones heal faster during surgery. Therefore, the use of Klar can be included as part of the care after cervical disc surgery.

Some surgeons may recommend a soft neck collar for the first few days after surgery to stabilize the neck and reduce excess movement, but it is not necessary. Most neck movements are allowed and safe in this early stage, but may still be painful. In particular, most patients are advised to avoid excessive head and neck tilting back for the first few weeks after surgery.

If you are given a soft collar for pain relief, it is important not to rely on it. You should start removing the collar gradually and remove it all together in about 6-8 weeks. But if you have been prescribed a hard brace after surgery, you should wear it day and night until your doctor advises you to take it off. If you use a hard necklace, you should not remove it during any activity.

How to sleep after cervical disc surgery

In response to the question of how to sleep after cervical disc surgery? That being said, some people may prefer to sleep lying down for the first few days. Any position that is more comfortable for sleeping is fine. Sleeping on the stomach is not recommended; Because it puts the most pressure on the cervical spine.

If you have a stiff collarbone, sleep on your back or side for the first 6 weeks and put the collar on it.
If you use a soft collar, use it at bedtime for the first 2 weeks.
For comfort, it is better to place a pillow under your back or next to your neck.
If the pain interferes with sleep, inform the surgeon.
Do not use sleeping pills without consulting a surgeon or pharmacist.
Be sure to use anti-embolism elastic socks (TED) while sleeping.

If you want to take good care after cervical disc surgery, you should know that the best way to sleep after cervical disc surgery, especially to reduce pain, is to sleep on your back with your knees bent, in this case, it is better to have a pillow under your knees. If you are used to sleeping on your side, you can put a pillow between your legs while sleeping to be closer to the ideal sleeping position.

How many days should you rest after cervical disc surgery?

Usually, patients should rest completely for the first 2 to 3 days after surgery so that the neck tissues have a chance to recover. After this period, light activities such as short walking can be started with the doctor's approval. But until the first week, any sudden movement or lifting of heavy objects should be avoided. The exact amount of rest depends on the type of surgery and the condition of the patient, so it should always be determined with the opinion of the surgeon how many days should be rested after cervical disc surgery in order to complete the safe and complete recovery process.

Exercise after cervical disc surgery

A few hours after surgery, the hospital staff will most likely help the person get out of bed and walk. At first, walking is done on a flat floor. Most patients can walk well at this stage. Patients experiencing dizziness at this stage need rest and further evaluation before attempting to walk again.

Light walking is recommended after surgery.
Excessive activity early in the recovery period may increase pain or injury.
Too little activity can increase the risk of neck stiffness, constipation, blood clots, or other complications.
It is necessary to do activities that do not conflict with the care after cervical disc surgery.
Running, cycling and vigorous exercise are prohibited for the first few weeks after surgery.
There is no limit to climbing stairs or sitting.
For the first 6 weeks after surgery, you should not lift more than 10 pounds (4.5 kg).
Two weeks after surgery and if there are no danger symptoms, you can have normal sexual activity.

Complications after cervical disc surgery

One of the things that make care after cervical disc surgery difficult is the occurrence of complications after cervical disc surgery. You will likely be able to get up and move around within a few hours of cervical disc surgery, and then go home from the hospital the same day or the next morning. You will feel some pain, but this pain should go away with time. During recovery, there is pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness in the neck or arms. Constipation is common after surgery. Surgical procedures, narcotic pain medications, reduced activity levels, and changes in diet can all cause constipation.

Hoarseness after cervical disc surgery

After neck disc replacement surgery, most people experience pain and swelling in the throat, which can cause difficulty in speaking (dysphonia) or swallowing (dysphagia). If you've had an anterior cervical fusion during surgery, it's common to have a sore throat or hoarse voice for a few weeks after surgery; You may also feel "stuck" in your throat. Lozenges and eating soft foods may help. Most people fully recover their voice within a few days of surgery, but others may have trouble speaking for weeks or longer. This type of hoarseness is called dysphonia.

Hand numbness after cervical disc surgery

Numbness in the hand is actually due to a disorder in the nerve network that passes through the hand, arm, and cervical spine and reaches the spinal cord. In most cases, hand numbness after cervical spine surgery is due to inflammation around these nerves in the neck. Rarely, numbness is caused by damage to the nerve itself.

The best thing you can do to deal with hand numbness after cervical spine surgery is to be patient. In most cases, the numbness will improve with time. You may be tempted to use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to help reduce swelling. Talk to your spine surgeon before taking NSAIDs. NSAIDs may increase the risk of bleeding and slow bone healing.

Numbness of the hand may last for a few days to a few weeks after the operation, during this time the inflammation subsides and the nerve function returns to normal. If the numbness lasts more than 3 months and sometimes up to a year, one of the nerves in the neck may still be irritated or under pressure. Tell your doctor right away if your numbness seems to be getting worse instead of better, or if you lose bladder or bowel control.

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Dr. Yazdan Panahi

Student of Shahid Beheshti University of Tehran. The top rank of the specialized board of neurosurgery. 7-year history of performing complex operations on the base of the skull and brain and spinal cord tumors, 7-year history of complex operations on the spine

Spine and spinal cord

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