rmiller5, Welcome to the site. You have posted before, but not a lot, so I wanted to welcome you even if you have already been welcomed. I had my modified radical neck dissection on May 4, 2004. I started physical therapy in early August. Once I started therapy, the pain from the surgery went away and I now have a new pain, from exercising atrophied muscles. This is a good pain, though, so I don't mind it near as much as I did the other pain. I also am off all pain meds, even Tylenol, so that is also a good thing. So, I guess 3 months did it for me as far as getting rid of the surgery pain. Hope you can find a way to reach the same goal. Maybe physical therapy would help you, too.