How long is the recovery period for a cervical surgery on the neck?

Recovery from cervical disc surgery on the neck can be a matter of days in some cases and up to a year for others, according to WebMD. Recovery time depends on if an artificial disc in used to replace the removed disc or if the area is fused together.

Artificial cervical discs were approved by the FDA in 2007, and they boast a much quicker recovery time than the previous method of cervical fusion, WebMD reports. In some cases, however, fusion may be the only surgical option. Patients who receive a bone graft fusion may experience pain and loss of motion for three months to a year, and movement is likely to be limited for the first four to six weeks after surgery.