Why I Needed C5-C6 Disc Replacement
I had my C5-C6 disc replacement surgery back in July, long before I built this website. Looking back now, I wish I had written everything down in real time because it was one of the toughest recoveries I’ve gone through. That says a lot, especially considering that I also had my lumbar L5-S1 fusion recently.
If you want to understand where my spine journey really began, you can read my full story of what L5-S1 fusion surgery actually feels like on my site. That article is one of the rawest things I’ve ever shared, and it explains what led to the rest of the surgeries I needed.
My issues with my neck went all the way back to 2010. I had pain, nerve issues, weakness through one side, and constant stiffness. Like many people, I got brushed off for years. Doctors shrugged. Symptoms were blamed on stress, posture, sleeping wrong, or just “one of those things.”
Eventually things escalated. The pain started running through my shoulder and down my arm. I would get burning, numbness, twitching, and sometimes even weird weakness where I would drop things. The worst part was not knowing what was really going on. Once I met my surgeon, Dr. Miles at the Columbia Orthopedic Group in Columbia, Missouri, everything finally made sense.
He took one look at my imaging and explained why my C5-C6 disc was essentially worn out, pressing on nerves, and affecting everything from my neck to my arm. For once I finally felt like a doctor truly saw the problem. He recommended cervical disc replacement instead of a fusion because I was young, healthy, and would benefit from keeping motion in my neck.
Knowing what I know now, I am thankful I did it. But the recovery was no joke. This is my real story, told the way I wish I could have read it before I went in.
How My Surgeon Diagnosed the Problem
When I met with Dr. Miles, he explained everything in a way that finally clicked. The C5-C6 disc sits in the middle of your neck, and when it degenerates or herniates, it can cause a whole list of symptoms including:
• Neck pain
• Shoulder pain
• Arm numbness
• Burning or tingling
• Weakness when lifting
• Headaches
• Loss of grip strength
I had almost all of these. My MRI showed the disc had collapsed and was pressing right into the nerve root. That is why all the shots, therapy, stretching, and medication I tried over the years never worked.
He walked me through my options:
- Do nothing
- Try more temporary fixes
- Cervical fusion
- C5-C6 artificial disc replacement
Since I am still young, disc replacement made the most sense. It preserves movement. It reduces the risk of wearing down the next levels. And recovery is generally faster than a fusion.
He also made sure I understood the approach. They do this surgery from the front of the neck, through a small incision. That surprised me at first, but he explained that it lets them move the muscles out of the way gently, protect the nerves, and directly access the damaged disc.
Having already lived through a lumbar fusion, which you can read about in my step-by-step daily L5-S1 recovery journal, I knew surgeries on the spine are never simple. But the explanation gave me confidence. I trusted him. And I needed relief.
So I scheduled the surgery.
The Day of Surgery: Going Under Anesthesia
On the morning of the surgery, I felt nervous but also relieved. I had been living with neck pain for so long that the idea of correcting the problem felt like hope.
One big difference from my lumbar surgery is that this one required full anesthesia. They put me completely under. I had the usual prep, IV, hospital gown, monitors, and all the medical stuff. I remember lying back on the operating table and thinking, “I just want this over with.”
The next thing I knew, I was waking up in the recovery room. I wasn’t groggy or sick. I felt clear. The nurses asked me questions, I responded normally, and I felt calm enough that they let me go home the same day.
That made the surgery seem deceptively easy at first. But once the anesthesia started wearing off later that day, reality hit.
The soreness kicked in hard. My entire neck felt stiff and heavy. Turning my head even slightly pulled on the incision. My throat felt sore from the surgical approach. And my voice felt weird. I remember swallowing and thinking, “Wow… this really happened.”
Going home was the easy part. The hard part started the moment the pain meds were no longer doing all the heavy lifting.
The First Few Hours After the Surgery
Once I was home and settled, the post-op pain started creeping in. The first several hours felt manageable, but then everything tightened up. It wasn’t just pain. It was weakness. My neck felt like it couldn’t hold the weight of my head.
That evening, I tried to sit up from the couch, and my head felt like a bowling ball on top of a wet noodle. I couldn’t lift it on my own at all. I literally had to cradle my head with my hands to move it anywhere.
That was honestly scary. Nobody really told me that could happen. I thought I would be sore, but I didn’t expect my neck muscles to be so stunned that they couldn’t even support my head.
Hydrocodone helped keep the pain under control, but it didn’t fix the weakness. And icing the area helped a little, but icing the neck is incredibly awkward. You can’t really lay on it right. You can’t wrap it perfectly. And too much cold on the throat feels uncomfortable fast.
Still, ice and medication were my lifesavers in those first hours. Without them, it would have been unbearable. The combination kept the pain manageable enough for me to rest.
Later that night, I started to realize that this recovery was going to be harder than I expected. Not impossible. But definitely not a breeze.
Days 1–3: The Shock of Neck Weakness
The first three days after my C5-C6 disc replacement were no joke. The weakness in my neck was something I was absolutely not prepared for. I expected soreness, stiffness, maybe some headaches. But the complete inability to lift my own head? Nobody warned me how intense that would be.
Every time I needed to sit up or lay back down, I had to physically use my hands to guide and support my head. It wasn’t optional. If I tried to do it without support, a sharp, deep pain shot through the front of my neck and into the incision area, almost like everything inside was pulling on a fresh wound. It made sense — the surgeon cut through the front of my neck to reach the C5-C6 disc, and that area had taken a beating.
The muscles were stunned. They simply weren’t ready to work yet. Even lifting my head an inch felt like trying to lift a cinder block with spaghetti noodles.
Hydrocodone helped, but it didn’t erase the weakness. It only took the edge off. For those first three days, I mostly rested, took my meds on schedule, and moved very slowly.
Sleeping was difficult too. I had to find a position where my neck was supported on both sides, but not strained. I remember waking up multiple times a night because I accidentally moved my head slightly and felt a surge of pain. Still, these were the days when I reminded myself this surgery was done to fix the root problem — and that the weakness was temporary.
Days 4–7: The Hardest Week of Recovery
By day four, the pain started shifting from sharp surgical pain to a deep soreness and stiffness that felt like it lived inside the muscles. My neck still couldn’t fully hold my head upright without me helping, but I did notice tiny improvements each day.
This was the week where the stiffness peaked. Turning my head even slightly felt impossible. Both sides of my neck felt tight, and my throat was still sore from the anterior approach. Swallowing and stretching the front of my neck felt strained and uncomfortable.
This was also when the muscle spasms kicked in — especially in the evening. They didn’t last long, but when they hit, they were strong enough to make me stop whatever I was doing.
Daily tasks were frustrating. Showering required caution. Getting dressed was slow. Even talking felt odd because my throat was sensitive and numb. Emotionally, this week tested my patience hard.
But once I hit day seven, I noticed something important: the weakness started fading. I still had to be careful, but I could lift my head with much less assistance. The muscles were finally waking back up. This week was the worst of my C5-C6 recovery, but things did slowly start trending upward.
This was the same pattern I went through in my lumbar recovery, too — something I’ve documented in my daily L5-S1 fusion journal, where small progress each day becomes the only thing that keeps you going.
Week 2: Finally Regaining Control of My Neck
Week two was the turning point. I still had soreness, but I could move my head without using my hands to support it. That alone felt like a victory.
The pain changed a lot during this week. Instead of sharp surgical pain, I felt a deeper, bruised feeling around the spine and muscles. It was manageable, and I started tapering down the hydrocodone. I didn’t quit cold turkey — I spaced out the doses until I eventually didn’t need them anymore.
The stiffness was still there. Turning my head left or right felt like stretching a stiff rope that had no flexibility. Quick movements were completely off the table. But the improvement was steady, even if slow.
My range of motion also started returning. Little by little, I could tilt my head, turn slightly, and look down easier. The throat area remained numb — which is something I still feel today — but the pain levels were noticeably better.
Around the end of week two, I finally started feeling more like myself again. I could walk around the house without guarding my head with my hands, and sleep became slightly easier. Not perfect, but better.
Week 3–4: Stiffness, Improvement, and Lingering Symptoms
Weeks three and four were where the long-term healing really started to show. The overall pain was lower, but the stiffness was still very real. Any sudden movement gave me a quick reminder that things were still healing deep inside.
Turning my head to check a blind spot while driving was uncomfortable. Looking down at my phone required more deliberate movement. Even lifting something as light as a small grocery bag made me feel tension around the surgical area.
The front of my neck stayed numb — a weird, almost dead feeling on the skin. It didn’t affect swallowing or talking, but the sensation was gone. I now know this is very common with the anterior approach and can take many months to return, if it ever does.
The good news was that the radiating symptoms — the burning, numbness, and weakness down my arm — started improving slowly. Not instantly, but a little at a time. Each week, something small got better.
This stage reminded me a lot of my lumbar fusion recovery. In my article about what L5-S1 fusion truly feels like, I talk about how recovery isn’t a straight line. It’s a slow climb with random setbacks, stiffness days, and small victories. My neck surgery recovery followed that same unpredictable pattern.
But by week four, I could confidently say I was healing — even if the neck still had a long road left.
Month 1–3: The Long Stretch of Healing
Month one to month three was where the real healing work happened. By this point, the sharp surgical pain was gone, but the stiffness and deep soreness stayed with me. It wasn’t constant, but it was there every single day in some form.
Some days felt close to normal. I’d wake up and think, “Wow, this might finally be turning the corner.” Then the next day, my neck would feel tight and fatigued again, like the muscles were still relearning how to support my head properly.
My range of motion was definitely improving, but slowly. Turning my head all the way left or right still felt restricted, like there was a “stop point” that my neck just couldn’t move past yet. It wasn’t painful in the same way as before — just a reminder that the artificial disc and my body were still adjusting to each other.
The radiating nerve pain in my arm continued improving as the pressure on the nerve stayed relieved. That was one of the biggest changes. The burning that used to shoot down my shoulder wasn’t constant anymore, and the numbness in my fingers started easing up little by little.
But the truth is, this period was also mentally challenging. Neck surgery recovery is slow. Not as slow as lumbar fusion, like I talked about in my L5-S1 experience article, but slow enough that some days feel frustrating. Some days you wonder if you’re healing fast enough. Other days you realize the progress is real — it just comes in small doses.
At the end of month three, I finally felt like the surgery had given me a meaningful improvement. Not total relief yet, but the beginning of a new normal.
The Ongoing Throat Numbness
One of the strangest and longest-lasting symptoms has been the numb patch on the front of my throat. This started right after surgery and is still present months later. It’s not painful — it just feels like the skin is asleep. Almost like that area is disconnected or dulled.
This numbness comes from the approach they use during the surgery. The incision is on the front of the neck, and they have to move through tissue that includes small sensory nerves. When those nerves are disturbed or cut, the skin can lose sensation for months. Some people get the feeling back. Some only get part of it back. And others stay numb forever.
My numb area is noticeable when I shave, when I touch my throat, or when I stretch my neck. It doesn’t affect how I swallow, breathe, or talk, but the sensation itself hasn’t fully returned yet.
Compared to the overall benefits of the surgery, the numbness is an inconvenience — but not something I regret. I’d rather have this numb patch than the burning, pinching nerve pain I had before.
Comparing My C5-C6 Disc Replacement to My L5-S1 Fusion
Living through both surgeries in the same year gave me a perspective very few people have. They are two completely different experiences, even though they both involve the spine.
• The neck surgery had sharper initial pain and extreme muscle weakness the first week.
• The lumbar fusion, on the other hand, brought deep, heavy pain and stiffness throughout the entire lower back and pelvis.
Neck surgery felt more vulnerable in the beginning because you rely on those muscles for every movement — sitting up, laying down, turning your head. The weakness was the scariest part.
My lumbar fusion recovery, which I documented in my full L5-S1 fusion story, had more difficulty with sitting, standing, and bending. It affected my entire lower body and how I moved through the day.
The surprising part?
Walking during both surgeries helped me tremendously. With the neck surgery, walking loosened my muscles and alleviated some of the stiffness. With the lumbar fusion, walking was absolutely required to keep healing moving forward.
Another difference:
Neck surgery affected posture more. Fusion surgery affected mobility more.
Neither one was easy. But both were necessary steps toward getting my life back after years of being brushed off by doctors and dealing with pain that slowly took over everything I did.
What I Wish I Knew Before the Surgery
Looking back now, there are so many things I wish I knew going into my C5-C6 disc replacement. Not because I wouldn’t have done it — but because it would have mentally prepared me better.
Here’s what stands out the most:
- The neck weakness hits harder than the pain.
I expected soreness. I did not expect to physically be unable to lift my head for days. That part shocked me. - Throat numbness can last a long time.
No one told me that patch of skin might stay numb for months or longer. - Ice is harder to use on the neck.
It helps, but it’s awkward and uncomfortable to position. - Sleeping is tough the first week.
You have to find a position where your head doesn’t pull on anything. - Hydrocodone helps but doesn’t fix the weakness.
Pain relief is one thing, but muscle shock is another. - Recovery takes months, not weeks.
Everyone says this, but you don’t understand it until you’re living it. - Tiny improvements matter.
Turning your head an extra inch one day means more than you think. - A good surgeon makes all the difference.
I’m thankful I had Dr. Miles. He found the problem when so many others didn’t.
If I had known all of this, I would have gone into surgery with more realistic expectations. I still would have done it — because the relief is real — but I would have been mentally prepared for the tough weeks that followed.
My Long-Term Results Months Later
Now that I’m several months out from my C5-C6 disc replacement, I can finally say I’m seeing the real benefits — the ones I waited years for. It didn’t happen overnight, and honestly, the recovery took longer than I expected. But the relief is real.
The burning nerve pain that used to shoot down my shoulder and arm has eased up dramatically. Before surgery, it was a daily battle. Some days I couldn’t even lift certain things without feeling that deep, electric pinch traveling down my arm. Now those moments are rare, and when they show up, they’re much milder.
The stiffness is still there sometimes, especially on days when I sleep weird or overdo it physically. But it doesn’t control my life the way it used to. The constant tightness at the base of my neck? Gone. The headaches that would flare up from nerve compression? Gone too.
I’m not fully healed — and anyone who has had cervical surgery knows this process can take up to a year — but the difference between now and before surgery is huge. The artificial disc feels stable. My range of motion improves little by little. And I’m no longer waking up every morning thinking, “Here we go again.”
The biggest thing I’ve learned is that recovery is not linear. Some weeks you feel almost normal. Others you feel like you’re backtracking. But overall, every month has moved me forward.
How Much Relief I Actually Feel Today
If I’m being honest — the relief didn’t hit all at once. It wasn’t like waking up one day and suddenly feeling cured. Instead, it came in layers.
The first layer was the disappearance of the severe nerve pain. That alone made the surgery worth it.
The second layer was waking up without that crushing neck stiffness that used to sit right at the base of my skull. That stiffness was a part of me for so long that I forgot what it felt like to NOT have it.
The third layer came months later, when I realized I could turn my head more naturally again. Not perfectly — but comfortably. That was when I realized how badly the damaged disc had been limiting my motion for years.
And the final layer is happening now:
feeling stronger, more stable, and more confident with my neck than I have in a decade.
Yes, I still have symptoms here and there. Yes, I still have good days and bad days. But the difference between where I was before surgery and where I am now is honestly like night and day.
What I Would Tell Anyone Considering Disc Replacement
If someone asked me whether C5-C6 disc replacement is worth it, here is exactly what I would tell them:
1. The first week is rough.
You won’t be able to lift your head on your own at first. Be ready for that.
2. The throat numbness is real.
And it may stick around longer than you expect.
3. Recovery is slower than people think.
Even though disc replacement is marketed as “fast recovery,” muscles still need time to rebuild.
4. The relief is worth the struggle.
The nerve pain improvement alone made the surgery life changing for me.
5. A skilled surgeon matters more than anything else.
Dr. Miles caught what so many others missed. That changed everything.
6. You need patience.
Healing doesn’t happen on your schedule. It happens on your body’s schedule.
And if you’re someone who likes to read others’ recovery experiences, I would definitely recommend also reading my full L5-S1 fusion breakdown, because having both surgeries in the same year gave me a deeper understanding of what spine recovery really feels like.
Both surgeries were hard. Both had brutal days.
But both were worth it.
The Truth About C5-C6 Disc Replacement Recovery
If I could go back in time and talk to myself the day before this surgery, I would say, “You’re going to be okay. It’s going to be hard. But it’s going to get better.”
Because that’s the truth.
C5-C6 disc replacement is not a small surgery. It affects your neck, your nerves, your posture, your strength, your daily life. But it also gives you a chance at relief you may not have had otherwise.
I believe more people deserve real first-person stories, not watered-down medical summaries. That’s why I put this all out there. People search online trying to understand what this surgery is really like, and too often they find sterile information that doesn’t tell the real story.
This is mine — the real version — so someone else doesn’t go into it blind like I did.
If my journey helps even one person prepare better or feel less alone, then sharing all of this was absolutely worth it.
