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Back pain is a common problem. Stress and strain, not to mention aging, are inevitable. In most cases, conservative approaches like heat, ice, and physical therapy are effective ways to address this discomfort. In fact, 90 percent of the millions of Americans who suffer from back pain will recover without surgical intervention, according to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. But if you need surgery to address your back pain, your recovery time is probably one of your biggest concerns. Your recovery time will depend on a lot of different factors including your age, your overall health, the severity of your back injury, and what kind of surgery you have. Some of the more common types of back surgery NJ Spine & Ortho offers include: Discectomy. Discs separate each of the vertebrae in your spine. If one of these discs is damaged or slips out of place, it can place pressure on nerves in your back and cause significant pain. During a discectomy procedure, a surgeon will remove part of that disc to alleviate the pressure it is putting on the nerves. After undergoing a lumbar microdiscectomy, patients can expect to limit movement for six weeks. Disc replacement. In some cases, a disc can be so worn out that it needs to be replaced. If this is the case, you may be a candidate for artificial disc replacement. During the procedure, a surgeon will remove an entire disc and replace it with an artificial one made of either metal or a combination of metal and plastic. The surgery will take two to three hours, and you can expect to stay in the hospital for one to three days following the procedure, according to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. You will likely be encouraged to walk the first day after undergoing the procedure. Laminectomy. The lamina is the part of the vertebrae that help cover the spinal canal. Sometimes this part of the bone can put pressure on the nerves in the spinal canal. During a laminectomy, a surgeon will remove all or part of a lamina. This can relieve the pressure causing your back pain. The majority of patients (70 percent to 80 percent) experience a significant reduction of pain and improvement in function following this surgery. Most laminectomy patients return to basic activities within a few days or weeks, while full, normal activity may need to wait for a few months. Spinal fusion. Spinal fusion can be used to treat lumbar degenerative disc disease, lumbar spondylolisthesis and several other issues that cause pain in a vertebral segment. During this procedure, surgeons fuse together vertebra at the site of pain. This fusion limits movement that causes pain. Most patients will be past the most significant postoperative pain at one month following the procedure. Physical therapy may be prescribed for up to three months. There are many other procedures that address back pain, and if you need surgery, your doctor will help you understand your options. Once you know you

After a major procedure like neck surgery, you’re going to need time to recover. During that period, you should have plenty of rest and downtime. When you can do a bit more, and after your doctor gives their approval, there are some exercises you can do to keep your neck strong and stay on that path to recovery. While neck surgery has numerous benefits and in the long run will make your life easier, it’s still an intense procedure. Whether you need surgery because of pain caused by a disc or vertebra, the procedure requires sedation and an incision on the back of your neck. After you’ve been cleared to go home, it’s time to start your recovery process. It’s more than avoiding strenuous tasks and staying away from work. You have to be careful about how you sleep, how you move and even how you lift items that you might have never given a second thought before your surgery. NJ Spine & Orthopedic provides information about how to recover safely and promptly. We know you’re more than just a number. Here, we treat people, not patients. We aim to inform and help anyone with questions or if they are wondering if they need neck surgery. Contact Us When It’s Time for Neck Surgery Unless you’re a doctor, it’s difficult to know when you need to have neck surgery. When nerves are pinched, or disks are breaking down and grinding together, you’ll need neck surgery to fix the problem. Cervical Radiculopathy. When a herniated disc pinches a nerve root, it causes pain from the disc’s bone spurs irritating the nerve. Spinal Stenosis. This is when your spine has spaces that are narrow. Your spine starts to put pressure on nerves or your spinal cord. This results in pain or feeling numbness. Degenerative Disc Disease. Nerves pinch due to pressure from discs that become more brittle. Their purpose is to keep your vertebrae from grinding against each other, and this becomes more difficult if they deteriorate. Neck surgery will solve your issues with pain and will allow you to get back and enjoy your daily life. Neck Surgery Benefits Pain Relief. After the procedure and recovery time, you’ll be able to return to your normal life without having to think about pain every day. Neck pain keeps you from doing what you love and is also mentally exhausting because it’s constantly occupying your thoughts. Solving this problem takes away this constant pain and pressure. Health. Neck pain usually is a symptom that’s indicative of a problem. Trying to tough it out and live with neck pain could mean that the problem will get worse. By having surgery and fixing the problem, you’re taking care of your body and won’t have to worry about the problems getting more serious or the pain getting worse. Neck Surgery Process There are various procedures for different problems causing your neck pain. However, most surgeries include getting to the area causing pain, removing whatever is causing