An anterior cervical fusion of your neck is a major surgical procedure and requires many weeks to recover fully. People that opt for this surgery often do so because they have weakness and pain in their arms due to cervical nerve irritation or compression. Swimming is a good rehabilitation exercise for increasing the strength in your arms and improving flexibility of your spine, but you must be fully recovered from the surgery and be able to move your head in all directions without pain before getting into the pool. Make sure your doctor thinks it’s safe before you consider swimming after an anterior cervical fusion procedure.
Anatomy of Your Neck
Your neck is called the cervical region of your spine and includes the top seven vertebrae or bones. The vertebrae help protect your spinal cord and provide attachments for muscles that allow for movement. The vertebrae are separated by discs, which provide cushioning and allow for a wider range of motion. Each vertebra has lateral openings that allow peripheral nerves to exit the spinal cord and innervate muscles of the neck, shoulders and arms. Trauma, arthritis and other diseases can cause problems with the vertebrae or discs and lead to irritation or compression of the spinal nerves. In advanced cases, surgical intervention is required.
Anterior Cervical Fusion
Anterior cervical fusion is an operation performed on the vertebrae of the neck to relieve pressure on one or more nerve roots. The procedure involves a discectomy, or removal of the intervertebral disc, and then fusion of your vertebrae, often with bone chips from other parts of your body. The vertebrae are accessed from the anterior, or front, of your neck, and the incision leaves a thin scar a few inches long. Anterior cervical fusions are done when discs herniate or wear out, which often leads to nerve root compression and symptoms. According to the book “Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine,” common symptoms of cervical nerve root compression include burning or shooting neck and arm pain, reduced neck and arm strength, and numbness and tingling of the arms and hands.
Recovery Times
The time allotted for a full recovery from an anterior cervical fusion operation depends on many factors, including your age, health, lifestyle and physical conditioning. However, according to the Mayfield Clinic of Cincinnati, Ohio, recovery generally takes four to six weeks. Full recovery includes radiographic evidence of bone fusion, minimal to no neck or arm pain and enough range of motion in the neck to complete activities of daily living. Some patients may be able to start physical activity after four weeks, but others may need many months.
Cautions
Swimming not only requires neck motion but also arm strength. Lack of arm strength is often why patients seek neck surgery, so make sure that your arms and shoulders are strong enough to keep yourself afloat. It may be a good idea to start swimming in the shallow end of the pool before you attempt to swim in water over your head. Further, you may want to wear a flotation device as a safety precaution. Make sure to get your doctor’s permission before you engage in physical activity, especially swimming.
References
- Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine; A. Fauci et al.
- Mayfield Clinic; Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion
